<h2>Modernisation of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Delhi Police — The law‑enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public order and safety in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GS2: Polity)">Delhi Police</span></h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) — Central ministry overseeing internal security, police, and disaster management in India (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Home Affairs</span> has highlighted a series of steps taken by the Delhi Police to digitise citizen services and upgrade operational capabilities. The initiative aligns with the central <span class="key-term" data-definition="Scheme of ‘Assistance to States and UTs for Modernisation of Police’ — Central government programme that provides financial assistance to states and union territories for upgrading police infrastructure, equipment and technology (GS2: Polity, GS3: Economy)">Assistance to States and UTs for Modernisation of Police</span> scheme.</p>
<h3>Key Developments (Bullet Points)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Launch of citizen‑centric digital portals for filing complaints, obtaining certificates and tracking case status.</li>
<li>Acquisition of advanced weaponry and modern communication gear for rapid response.</li>
<li>Deployment of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — Remotely piloted aircraft used for surveillance, reconnaissance and disaster management; increasingly deployed by police forces (GS3: Technology, GS4: Ethics)">UAVs</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Night Vision Devices (NVDs) — Optical equipment that amplifies low‑light conditions, enabling police operations during night time (GS3: Technology)">NVDs</span> for enhanced surveillance.</li>
<li>Installation of city‑wide <abbr title="Closed‑Circuit Television">CCTV</abbr> networks and introduction of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Body‑worn camera systems — Wearable video recording devices that capture police‑public interactions, enhancing transparency and accountability (GS4: Ethics)">body‑worn cameras</span> to improve accountability.</li>
<li>Upgradation of forensic labs, cyber‑crime units and traffic policing tools.</li>
<li>Investment in physical and technical infrastructure funded partly from the regular budget grant of the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>• The modernisation effort is a continuous process; the central assistance covers procurement of equipment such as UAVs, NVDs, CCTV, and body‑worn cameras.<br>
• The Delhi Police also finances infrastructure upgrades from its regular budget, ensuring sustained capability growth.<br>
• The details were disclosed by <strong>Shri Nityanand Rai</strong>, Minister of State (Home Affairs), in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question on <strong>01 April 2026</strong>.</p>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>Understanding police modernisation is crucial for GS 2 (Polity) and GS 3 (Economy) as it reflects the government's approach to internal security, technology adoption, and fiscal allocation. The scheme illustrates inter‑governmental financial cooperation, while the use of UAVs, NVDs and body‑worn cameras touches upon emerging security technologies (GS 3) and ethical policing (GS 4).</p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul>
<li>Strengthen training programmes to ensure effective utilisation of new equipment.</li>
<li>Integrate data from digital services, CCTV and UAVs into a unified command‑and‑control centre for real‑time decision‑making.</li>
<li>Formulate clear data‑privacy and accountability guidelines for body‑worn camera footage.</li>
<li>Encourage further central‑state collaboration to bridge funding gaps and promote uniform standards across all UTs and states.</li>
</ul>
<p>These steps will not only enhance public safety but also set a benchmark for modern policing in India.</p>
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