The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) on 14 October 2026 launched a dedicated website — demography.mha.gov.in — inviting ministries, departments, state and Union Territory governments, other bodies, and individual citizens to submit relevant inputs through an online questionnaire. The portal also allows users to upload supporting documents, research materials, photographs, and videos.

Background and Constitution of the Committee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of the HLCDC during his Independence Day address last year, with the Union Cabinet formally approving the proposal on 11 September 2025. The committee was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Retired Supreme Court Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar serves as its Chairperson. Its members include retired IAS officers Mritunjay Kumar Narayan and Durga Shanker Mishra, retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava, and Shamika Ravi, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Prashant Sitaram Lokhande, IAS, is the Member Secretary.

Scope of Study and Terms of Reference

The HLCDC has been tasked with examining demographic changes linked to variations in fertility rates, cross-border movement including illegal immigration, economic opportunities, and other socio-environmental factors. Importantly, the committee is also mandated to analyse structural population changes at the level of religious or social communities, particularly those diverging from uniform national trends.

Among its core responsibilities, the committee is to recommend a well-organised and permanent operational system for the legal, fair, and time-bound identification, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants. This comes amid long-standing concerns in several border states over demographic pressures linked to undocumented migration.

Institutional and Policy Recommendations Sought

The HLCDC's terms of reference extend to recommending an appropriate institutional mechanism to strengthen border management, population stabilisation, and identification systems for sustained monitoring of demographic trends. The committee is further expected to propose a comprehensive policy framework to enhance coordination between the Centre and state governments on matters related to illegal immigration and the resultant demographic imbalance.

Notably, the body has been given latitude to recommend any other measure it deems appropriate to address related challenges — indicating a broad mandate that could touch immigration law, civil registration systems, and inter-agency data sharing.

How to Submit Inputs

All concerned parties can visit demography.mha.gov.in to complete the online questionnaire. Supporting materials, research documents, photographs, and videos may be uploaded alongside responses. The committee has stated that all submissions received will be examined and may be considered, as appropriate, while formulating its final recommendations.

With the HLCDC now publicly soliciting inputs, the next phase of its work — synthesising data and drafting policy recommendations — is expected to gather momentum in the months ahead.