New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of modernising India’s police forces and aligning them with the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' during the 59th All India DG-IG Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, held from November 29 to December 1. The hybrid-format conference brought together senior police officials, including DGs/IGs from states and union territories, and over 750 officers joined virtually.

PM Modi emphasized leveraging technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to address emerging challenges such as cybercrimes, digital fraud, and deepfake threats. He proposed harnessing India’s “double AI power”—Artificial Intelligence and Aspirational India—to transform these challenges into opportunities.

Extending the principles of SMART policing, the Prime Minister called for police forces to become Strategic, Meticulous, Adaptable, Reliable, and Transparent. He urged resource optimization at the police station level and suggested national-scale implementation of successful urban policing initiatives. The concept of a National Police Hackathon was also discussed as a means to foster innovation.

The conference addressed critical national and international security issues, including counter-terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, coastal security, border challenges with Bangladesh and Myanmar, and combating malicious narratives. PM Modi appreciated ongoing efforts and outlined a roadmap for bolstering security measures, particularly in areas like port security and the enforcement of newly enacted criminal laws.

The valedictory session included the distribution of President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service. PM Modi also called on the security establishment to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy on his 150th birth anniversary by setting transformative goals to enhance police professionalism and capabilities.

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Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other senior officials participated in the conference, which underscored the critical role of modernized and future-ready policing in addressing India's evolving security landscape.