The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is a ministry of the Government of India, serving as the nation's interior ministry and primarily responsible for the maintenance of internal security and domestic policy. It was formed on 15 August 1947, following the reorganization of the British Indian Government's Home Department. The MHA's initial, critical problem-solving role was the integration of 562 princely states into the Indian Union, a task spearheaded by the first Home Minister, Vallabhbhai Patel.
The MHA's mechanism is rooted in its constitutional mandate, particularly Article 355, which enjoins the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance. While 'police' and 'public order' are State List subjects, the MHA coordinates security matters, provides intelligence, and deploys the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF and BSF. It is the Cadre Controlling Authority for the Indian Police Service (IPS). Its functions are organized across divisions like Internal Security, Border Management, and Union Territories.
The MHA connects to a vast security architecture, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It administers key legislation such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Recently, the MHA has overseen major legislative changes, including the enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam in 2023, which replaced the colonial-era criminal laws. It also administered the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.