Amit Shah promises anti-drone system by year-end to curb smuggling of weapons and narcotics

Subhashis Mittra

The government is in the process of installing anti-drone systems by the end of this year as part of increased vigilance to curb the smuggling of narcotics and weapons through drones. This was announced by Union home minister Amit Shah while addressing Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the Sanchu border outpost in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district—located barely two to five kilometres from the India-Pakistan international border. 

At the same time, the home minister stressed that since drones land in the Indian territory, close coordination with the local police and civil administration is essential to identify those receiving such consignments and to neutralise the threats effectively. Thus, to ensure comprehensive border security, a multi-layered ‘four-point security grid’—involving the BSF, armed forces, the local administration and citizens—is essential, he said, pledging faster deployment of advanced surveillance systems and upgraded infrastructure besides anti-drone technology along India’s western frontier.

“It is our responsibility to remain strongly vigilant to curb the smuggling of narcotics and weapons through drones and other modern equipment. The government is taking steps to install anti-drone systems within the next six months,” said Shah on 26 May 2026, while interacting with the BSF personnel in Bikaner. Shah said that since the establishment of the BSF, border guards have fulfilled the responsibility of protecting the nation’s international boundary with dedication to duty, bravery, courage, and the spirit of supreme sacrifice, without caring for scorching heat, severe cold, rain, dense forests, snow-covered peaks, or temperatures ranging from 45 degrees to minus 45 degrees Celsius. The sacrifice of more than 2,000 border guards is not only a debt owed by the BSF and the government of India, but by all 1.4 billion Indians. “The entire nation is proud of them,” the HM said.

Shah, who virtually inaugurated women’s barracks, said that the government has decided to ensure the participation of the country’s daughters in every field in a gender-neutral manner and provide them with equal opportunities. He said that earlier governments had not given adequate attention to the role of women in border security and the facilities required for them, but the country’s daughters have gone two steps ahead of men in contributing to national security. By 2030, all necessary facilities for women personnel deployed in border security will be ensured, he promised. Shah informed that in Rajasthan, 79 barracks have been sanctioned, and work on 67 of them has already been completed at a cost of around Rs 39 crore. Of these, 14 barracks have been inaugurated. The home minister said that along the borders guarded by the BSF, a total of 356 barracks will be constructed at a cost of around Rs 200 crore. Once completed, these barracks will make duty deployment much more convenient for women personnel.