<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> has set up a <span class="key-term" data-definition="High-Level Committee on Demographic Change — a government body created to study population shifts caused by illegal immigration and other abnormal factors; relevant to GS1: Polity and GS3: Demography">High-Level Committee on Demographic Change</span>. The move follows Prime Minister <span class="key-term" data-definition="Narendra Modi — 14th Prime Minister of India, whose initiatives are central to contemporary governance and GS2: Polity">Narendra Modi</span>'s announcement of a ‘<span class="key-term" data-definition="High‑powered Demography Mission — a policy drive launched on 15 August 2025 to address demographic imbalances caused by illegal infiltration; linked to GS3: Demography">High‑powered Demography Mission</span>’ on 15 August 2025.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>Committee chaired by <span class="key-term" data-definition="Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar — retired Supreme Court judge appointed to lead the demographic committee; GS2: Polity">Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar</span> (Retd.).</li>
<li>Members include the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Census Commissioner — head of the Office of the Registrar General, responsible for conducting the decennial census; GS3: Demography">Census Commissioner</span>, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Shri Durga Shankar Mishra — retired Indian Administrative Service officer, expert in governance; GS2: Polity">Shri Durga Shankar Mishra</span> (Retd. IAS), <span class="key-term" data-definition="Shri Balaji Srivastava — retired Indian Police Service officer, specialist in internal security; GS2: Polity">Shri Balaji Srivastava</span> (Retd. IPS) and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Dr. Shamika Ravi — academic and researcher on population studies; GS3: Demography">Dr. Shamika Ravi</span>.</li>
<li><span class="key-term" data-definition="Union Home Minister — senior cabinet minister heading the Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for internal security; GS2: Polity">Union Home Minister</span> <strong>Amit Shah</strong> announced the committee on X (formerly Twitter).</li>
<li>The Committee will submit its report within <strong>one year</strong>, with a possible extension of up to <strong>six months</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The Terms of Reference (ToR) direct the Committee to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Assess demographic shifts caused by <span class="key-term" data-definition="Illegal immigration — entry and residence of persons without legal permission, a security and demographic concern for India; GS2: Polity">illegal immigration</span> and other abnormal factors.</li>
<li>Analyse population changes at the level of religious and social communities where trends deviate from national averages.</li>
<li>Recommend mechanisms for identification, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.</li>
<li>Suggest institutional reforms for border management and continuous monitoring of demographic trends.</li>
<li>Propose a coordinated policy framework between Centre and States to address demographic imbalances.</li>
</ul>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>This development touches multiple GS papers. Understanding the Committee’s mandate helps in GS 2 (Polity) for governance structures, GS 3 (Demography) for population dynamics, and GS 4 (Security) for internal security implications. The focus on illegal infiltration links to border management, a recurring theme in the syllabus. The involvement of senior bureaucrats and a retired judge illustrates the use of expert committees in policy formulation, a point often asked in essay and answer‑type questions.</p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Key steps expected after the report:</p>
<ul>
<li>Legislative action to tighten immigration laws.</li>
<li>Strengthening of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="National Register of Citizens (NRC) — a register of Indian citizens used to identify illegal entrants; GS2: Polity">NRC</span> and related verification mechanisms.</li>
<li>Enhanced coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Border Security Force and State police forces.</li>
<li>Periodic demographic surveys to monitor trends and adjust policies.</li>
</ul>
<p>For UPSC aspirants, tracking the Committee’s recommendations will be crucial for answering questions on demographic challenges, internal security, and federal‑state cooperation.</p>