Funds allocated to the Intelligence Bureau in the Union Budget 2026-27 have increased by 74% compared to last year, largely driven by capital expenditure that needs to be spent on infrastructure to enhance the country’s security.
The allocation is aimed at strengthening infrastructure and enhancing national security capabilities, with other paramilitary forces also receiving increased budgets. (Parliament TV)The budget is set aside ₹6782.43 crore for Internal Security Agency under Ministry of Home Affairs; Consists of capital expenditure ₹2549.54 crore as compared to Rs ₹230.76 crore in 2025-26. The overall budget estimate for 2025-26 was ₹3893.35 crore, was the revised estimate ₹4159.11 crores.
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The allocation to the IB is significant in the wake of the November terror attack near Delhi’s Red Fort and the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed. While the Pahalgam attack shows how terrorists from Pakistan were able to enter India and help Indian citizens to carry out terrorist attacks, the Delhi episode shows the extent of self-radicalisation in universities and how a module bought large quantities of explosives locally and used them in their activities. After Operation Sindur, India’s response to the Pahalgam attack, the IB has been coordinating with state police and the Central Industrial Security Force to secure Indian assets. Officials said the increased funding reflects the bureau’s capacity and consequent infrastructure expansion plans.
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All in all, it has been increased from the budget of the Union Home Ministry ₹2,33,210 crore to Rs ₹2,55,233.53 crores. India’s largest paramilitary force will get the Central Reserve Police Force ₹38517.93 crore as compared to Rs ₹35,147.47 crore in 2025-26. The CRPF, with a strength of over 3,00,000, has a major role to play in the fight against left-wing extremism. The CRPF will also increase its presence in J&K, once the Naxalite violence is eradicated and a part of the troops will be able to move to J&K. Senior officials said the Home Ministry and the CRPF are working to deploy the CRPF’s Cobra force in Jammu and Kashmir. Cobra commandos are trained in guerilla warfare and raised to combat left-wing extremism.
Budgetary allocations were increased for other paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. ITBP will see a 59% increase in capital expenditure ₹225.80 crore, out of an overall increase in allocation ₹11,324.08 crore.
As a result of the implementation of three new criminal laws on July 1, 2024, allocations for criminology and forensic science have also been increased. ₹93.35 crore in 2025-26 ₹132.89 crore for 2026-27. There were revised estimates for 2025-26 ₹99.57 crores.
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The budget for the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (IOCJS), another important feature of the new law, has also been increased. The revised budget for 2025-26 was ₹Which has increased to 300.01 crores₹550 crores. IOCJS connects all major components of the justice delivery system from police stations to forensic labs, jails and prisons so that the process from FIR to chargesheet to verdict is digitized and expedited.
