Overview
On 3 September 2026, the Supreme Court heard the Union government’s response to a suo motu case concerning police‑station surveillance. The Centre said it has started a Police Modernisation Mission to modernise police forces over the next five years.
Key Developments
- The Union has earmarked ₹24,000 crore for the new mission, but detailed components await financial clearance.
- The ASUMP scheme has been extended to 30 September 2026 to allow states to use remaining funds.
- The Court asked why existing ASUMP funds should lie dormant while the new scheme is pending.
- Jharkhand’s request for ₹112.5 crore under ASUMP was rejected; the state has not installed any CCTV cameras since 2020.
- The Court reminded the Centre of its 2021 judgment in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, which requires CCTV at key points in police stations and investigative agencies.
Important Facts
The Additional Solicitor General Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakare told Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the new mission will enhance the internal‑security capabilities of both CAPFs and state police through technology.
The Centre has not yet clarified whether unspent ASUMP money will automatically flow into the new mission, prompting the Court’s concern about “dormant funds.”
Exam Relevance
This case touches on several GS topics:
- Polity (GS2): Role of the Supreme Court in policy oversight; functioning of central schemes like ASUMP.
- Security (GS3): Modernisation of police forces and the use of surveillance technology to prevent custodial torture.
- Governance (GS4): Inter‑governmental coordination between Centre, states, and Union Territories for scheme implementation.
Way Forward
The Centre is expected to seek further instructions and report back on 21 September 2026. In the interim, the Court has urged the Union to:
- Utilise remaining ASUMP funds for immediate CCTV installation.
- Provide a clear timeline for financial approval of the Police Modernisation Mission.
- Address the pending Jharkhand proposal and ensure compliance with the 2021 Supreme Court directive.
Effective use of these schemes will strengthen India’s internal‑security architecture and demonstrate how judicial oversight can shape policy execution—key points for UPSC aspirants.