Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 26: To fulfil the promise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, last year, the Central government on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee to examine “unnatural demographic change” in the country due to infiltration and other reasons.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X to share details about the move, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2025. The panel under the retired Supreme Court Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar for a “comprehensive assessment of demographic changes occurring across India due to illegal immigration and other unnatural causes.”
“Infiltration and other reasons causing Unnatural Demographic Change pose a very significant challenge to the present and future of any nation. To address this very challenge, on 15 August 2025, Prime Minister @narendramodi ji had announced the ‘High-Level Committee on Demographic Change’. I am delighted to inform you that the government has now constituted this committee,” Shah posted on X.
“This committee, chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (Retd), will include Census Commissioner along with Shri Durga Shankar Mishra (Retd IAS), Shri Balaji Srivastava (Retd IPS), and Dr Shamika Ravi as members. The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, will serve as the Member Secretary of this committee,” he said.
Citing demographic change as a major concern for the county, Mr Shah said the committee would conduct a comprehensive assessment and provide a solution. “Demographic Change is a serious issue linked not only to our sovereignty but also to national security, law and order, profound changes in social structure, and the preservation of tribal society. This committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes occurring across India due to illegal immigration and other unnatural causes, analyze patterns of abnormal population shifts at the levels of religious and social communities, and present a planned and time-bound solution for the same,” he added.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, PM Modi had raised concerns over illegal immigration and its impact on the country’s demographic balance. During his speech, the Prime Minister said there was a deliberate attempt to alter the demographic structure of the country through infiltration and illegal migration, particularly in border regions.
He had announced the launch of a high-powered demography mission to deal with the issue and strengthen national security. PM Modi had said the mission would focus on protecting the unity and integrity of the nation, while also safeguarding the rights and interests of Indian citizens. He had cautioned that demographic imbalance caused by illegal migration posed a serious challenge to the country.
