Overview
On December 23, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu addressed an event organized by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), emphasizing the critical role of community participation in strengthening national security. She highlighted the concept of 'Jan Bhagidari' as the cornerstone of people-centric security, urging citizens to be active partners in safeguarding their surroundings and the nation.
Key Developments
Community Participation and National Security
President Murmu asserted that community participation strengthens national security, emphasizing that people should not be passive observers. She highlighted numerous examples of alert citizens assisting professional forces in averting security crises.
- 'Jan Bhagidari': Defined as the cornerstone of people-centric security.
- Active Partnership: Citizens should become alert and active partners in ensuring the security of their surroundings.
Social Media and Information Warfare
President Murmu addressed the transformative impact of social media on information and communication, acknowledging its potential for both creation and destruction. She stressed the importance of protecting people from misinformation and creating a community of active social media users who consistently present fact-based narratives in the national interest.
- Misinformation: Protecting people from misinformation is a challenging but crucial task.
- Fact-Based Narratives: Need to create a community of active social media users who consistently present fact-based narratives in the national interest.
Bridging the Gap Between Public and Police
President Murmu acknowledged the legacy burden from the pre-Independence period, which may cause some people to feel distant from government servants and police forces. She emphasized the need for civil police and internal security agencies to work with the spirit of serving the people, fostering a friendly and trustworthy relationship.
- Legacy Burden: Addressing the historical distance between the public and government servants.
- Serving the People: Civil police and internal security agencies should work with the spirit of serving the people.
Addressing Modern Security Challenges
President Murmu identified non-traditional and digital challenges as the most complex threats to national security. She emphasized the need to develop technologically competent communities to tackle problems originating from cutting-edge technologies, such as digital fraud.
- Non-Traditional Challenges: Most complex challenges to national security are non-traditional and digital in nature.
- Technologically Competent Communities: Need to develop technologically competent communities to address digital fraud and cybercrimes.
Public Participation in Combating Specific Threats
President Murmu noted the success of public participation in combating the drug menace and advocated for similar efforts to tackle the problem of radicalism. She also highlighted the importance of public participation in environmental protection to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
- Drug Menace: Effective campaign against the drug menace through public participation.
- Radicalism: Similar efforts should be made to tackle the problem of radicalism.
- Environmental Protection: Promote public participation in environmental protection to address the adverse effects of climate change.
Progress in Eradicating Left-Wing Extremism
President Murmu congratulated the security agencies for their determination to eradicate left-wing extremism by March 31, 2026. She noted the significant reduction in Naxal-affected districts, from 126 in 2014 to only 11 currently.
- Eradication Goal: Aim to eradicate left-wing extremism by March 31, 2026.
- Reduction in Affected Districts: Significant reduction from 126 districts in 2014 to only 11 districts currently.
Exam Relevance
This news article is highly relevant for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, particularly for GS Paper 3 (Internal Security) and GS Paper 2 (Governance). It highlights the importance of community participation in national security, the challenges posed by social media and digital threats, and the progress made in combating left-wing extremism. The concept of 'Jan Bhagidari' is crucial for understanding the government's approach to citizen engagement in governance and security.
Important Facts
- President Murmu addressed the Intelligence Bureau (IB) centenary endowment lecture on December 23, 2025.
- The theme of the lecture was 'People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building Viksit Bharat'.
- President Murmu emphasized the importance of 'Jan Bhagidari' in national security.
- The goal is to eradicate left-wing extremism by March 31, 2026.
- In 2014, there were 126 Naxal-affected districts, which has now reduced to 11.