New Delhi: The formation of a high-level committee to examine “unnatural demographic change” caused by illegal immigration and other factors was announced by Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.
The issue a major challenge to India’s sovereignty, national security, social balance, and the preservation of tribal societies, Shah said in a post on X.
The panel’s formation was rooted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on August 15, 2025, and would focus on demographic shifts linked to illegal migration and other abnormal causes, he noted.
“Unnatural demographic change due to infiltration and other reasons is a major challenge for the present and future of any nation,” the Union home minister posted in Hindi, as reported by India Today.
The committee would be chaired by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar and include former IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, former IPS officer Balaji Srivastava and economist Dr Shamika Ravi as members. The Census Commissioner will also be part of the panel, while the Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) in the Union Home Ministry will serve as member secretary.
The committee had been tasked with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of demographic changes taking place across the country and analysing patterns of abnormal population changes at the level of religious and social communities, Shah said.
The panel would also recommend a planned and time-bound solution to address the issue, he said.
“Demographic change is a serious issue linked not only to our sovereignty, but also to national security, law and order, social structure and the protection of tribal communities,” Shah said.
With the issue of illegal migration and demographic shifts remaining a recurring flashpoint in several states, particularly in border regions, the announcement is expected to trigger a wider political debate.