Union Budget 2026: Intel scores big in Maoist ops, IB gets a treat from Nirmala Sitharaman

With intelligence having played a decisive role in the success of Operation Sindoor as well as elimination of a dozen figures leading Maoists rebels over the past year, the Centre on Sunday unveiled a major capacity boost for Intelligence Bureau (IB) by ramping up its budgetary allocation by 63% to Rs 6,782 crore from Rs 4,159 crore allocated in the revised estimate for 2025-26.Overall ministry of home affairs budget has gone up by 9.4% to Rs 2.6 lakh crore from Rs 2.3 lakh crore in 2025-26. Policing gets the biggest share with allocation of Rs 1.7 lakh crore, up from Rs 1.6 lakh crore in 2025-26. Nearly Rs 11,762 crore has been earmarked for Census activities. Census 2027 will be conducted between April 2026 and March 2027.According to sources, the jump in IB funding (74% when compared with budget estimate for 2025-26) comes ahead of a comprehensive augmentation plan for the agency. This shall involve enhancing both IB personnel and infrastructure, including on the International Border amid reports that Pakistan may open a new terror front on the eastern border while persisting with attacks in J&K. The 2026-27 Budget has, meanwhile, allocated Rs 5,577 crore for border infrastructure and management.Also on the cards is a massive upgrade of immigration systems at airports - managed by Bureau of Immigration, a unit under IB - based on smart technology and biometric identification, eliminating the need for human intervention to stamp passports.While Phase II of vibrant villages programme has been allocated Rs 300 crore, the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System - which enables data sharing among police, courts, prosecution, prisons and forensic agencies - has seen a sharp rise in funding from Rs 300 crore to Rs 550 crore.