Govt forms high-level panel on demographic change linked to ‘illegal immigration, unnatural causes’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced the formation of a high-level committee to examine demographic changes in India associated with “illegal immigration and other unnatural causes”.

In a post on X, Shah said the decision follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on August 15, 2025, regarding the setting up of a “High-Level Committee on Demographic Change”.

“To address this very challenge, on 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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 said.

Justice Naolekar to head panel

The committee will be chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (retd). It will include the Census Commissioner, retired IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava, and economist Dr Shamika Ravi as members. The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) in the Ministry of Home Affairs will serve as the Member Secretary.

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Demographic change linked to national security: Shah

Calling demographic change a “serious issue”, Shah said it is connected to sovereignty, national security, law and order, social structure, and the preservation of tribal communities.

“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,” he said.

Panel to assess population shifts

Shah said the committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes across the country driven by illegal immigration and other “unnatural causes”.

It will also study patterns of “abnormal population shifts” among religious and social communities and recommend a “planned and time-bound” response to address the issue.