Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 highlighted what he described as a comprehensive transformation of India's national security posture over the 12 years of the Modi government, citing cross-border military operations, the revocation of Article 370, the near-eradication of Naxalism, and over 12 peace accords in the Northeast as defining achievements.

Context

Posting under the hashtag #12YearsOfSurakshitBharat (12 Years of a Secure India), Shah declared that the nation has been 'rebuilt as a bastion of security that shields the citizens and unleashes destruction upon its enemies.' The post marks the completion of 12 years since the Narendra Modi-led government took office in May 2014, and frames the anniversary around a security-first narrative spanning both external threats and internal challenges.

Shah specifically named the 2016 surgical strike, the Balakot air strike of 2019, and Operation Sindoor as instances of India responding to cross-border enemies 'with firepower.' These operations have each marked a doctrinal shift away from strategic restraint toward publicly acknowledged kinetic responses.

Policy Backdrop

The 2016 surgical strike across the Line of Control, conducted by the Indian Army in response to the Uri attack, was the first such operation to be officially acknowledged by the government. It was followed by the Indian Air Force's strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot, Pakistan, in February 2019, after the Pulwama attack that killed over 40 CRPF personnel.

The revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status and was accompanied by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which bifurcated the state into two Union Territories. Shah has consistently described this as a foundational step toward full integration of the region with the Indian Union.

On the internal security front, the government's anti-Naxal policy evolved from earlier rehabilitation frameworks into the 2017 National Policy and Action Plan, which expanded security infrastructure across 90 Naxal-affected districts in central and eastern India. The administration has claimed a significant reduction in Left-Wing Extremism-related violence and geographic spread over this period.

Stakeholders and Impact

Residents of Jammu and Kashmir have experienced a decade of administrative and political transition following the abrogation, with elections to the restored Legislative Assembly held in 2024. Tribal and rural communities in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and neighbouring states have been the primary stakeholders in the anti-Naxal campaign, which has combined security operations with the Aspirational Districts Programme.

In the Northeast, the government's claim of over 12 accords encompasses agreements with formerly active insurgent groups, including pacts related to Assam and boundary settlements. These settlements have drawn down decades-old armed movements, though implementation and rehabilitation of former combatants remain ongoing processes.

The Indian Armed Forces and central paramilitary organisations have been central actors across all three theatres — external, Naxal, and Northeast — and the government has consistently linked increased defence budgets and infrastructure investment to the outcomes Shah cited.

What's Next

Parliamentary scrutiny of internal security metrics — including the annual Crime in India report and the status of amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act — will provide independent benchmarks against which these claims can be assessed. The rollout of the fourth phase of the Aspirational Districts Programme in remaining Naxal-affected blocks will be a key policy test in the months ahead. As the ruling dispensation frames its 12-year record ahead of future electoral cycles, national security is expected to remain a central pillar of its political messaging.