New Delhi, 23 December (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday asserted that national security is one of the key drivers of economic investment and development, emphasizing that no nation can effectively confront the complex security challenges of the 21st century without the active participation of its citizens.

Addressing the Intelligence Bureau Centenary Endowment Lecture on the theme “People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building a Developed India”, President Murmu said that internal security and national resilience can only be achieved when citizens’ welfare and participation are placed at the core of national strategy.

The President commended the Intelligence Bureau for its vital and commendable role in safeguarding internal security, protecting citizens, and preserving India’s unity and integrity since Independence. She described the agency’s century-long service as “a matter of pride for the nation.”

President Murmu underlined that national security is not solely the responsibility of the government or security agencies but also a duty of every citizen. Vigilant, informed, and cooperative citizens, she said, can become the strongest allies of security institutions. “When communities act collectively, they create extraordinary synergy and impact,” she remarked.

She highlighted that several Fundamental Duties enshrined in the Constitution of India are directly linked to the idea of national security. The role of students, teachers, the media, Resident Welfare Associations, civil society groups, and other community organizations is crucial in promoting awareness of these civic responsibilities, she added.

The President emphasized that public participation strengthens national security, remarking that vigilant citizens have in the past helped avert major security crises. In the modern concept of national security, people must not remain mere spectators but active participants safeguarding their surroundings.

“Public participation is the cornerstone of people-centric security,” she stated.

President Murmu urged the police and internal security agencies to work in a spirit of service and empathy, stressing that public trust is the foundation of any community-driven security model. Without mutual trust, she noted, meaningful participation is impossible.

Acknowledging India’s multi-dimensional security landscape, the President said that traditional concerns such as border tensions, terrorism, extremism, separatism, and communal radicalism continue to pose serious threats.

At the same time, cybercrime has emerged as a fast-growing and formidable challenge in recent years.In a secure India, she said, lies the foundation of a prosperous India — asserting that insecurity in even one region can affect the nation’s economic stability as a whole.

Highlighting India’s progress against Left-Wing Extremism, President Murmu noted that it is now almost at the verge of elimination. She credited this success to the integrated strategy of strong security operations and community outreach designed to win public confidence.

The inclusion of marginalized and tribal communities in social and economic development, she said, has effectively undercut the influence of extremist and insurgent groups.

Reflecting on the role of social media, the President said it is a transformative platform for communication and information, possessing “the power to create as well as to destroy.” She identified misinformation and disinformation as major emerging threats, underscoring the need for a community of well-informed, responsible users who promote factual, national-interest-based narratives online.

President Murmu also addressed the non-traditional and digital dimensions of today’s security challenges, rooted in advanced technologies. She called for vigilance at household, institutional, and community levels to combat digital fraud and cyber deception.

Harnessing real-time data, she suggested, can help develop predictive policing models, enabling proactive responses to potential threats. Technologically empowered citizens, she said, not only protect themselves but help build a resilient digital defense ecosystem.

Concluding her address, President Murmu expressed confidence that citizen participation will drive India toward becoming a vigilant, peaceful, secure, and prosperous nation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan were among the dignitaries present at the event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar