The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is a ministry of the Government of India, functioning as the interior ministry primarily responsible for the maintenance of internal security and domestic policy. Its origin traces back to the Home Department of the British Indian Government, formally established in 1861 following the Indian Council Act. The MHA was formed on August 15, 1947, by reorganizing this department, and its initial, critical problem-solving role was the integration of 562 princely states into the Indian Union, a task spearheaded by the first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The MHA's mechanism involves several key functions, including border management, disaster management, and the administration of Union Territories. It is the Cadre Controlling Authority for the Indian Police Service (IPS) and exercises administrative control over all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), such as the BSF, CRPF, and CISF. The MHA also implements the Citizenship Act, 1955, governing citizenship and immigration matters. While "police" and "public order" are State List subjects under the Constitution, the MHA connects to state governments by providing CAPFs and financial assistance to maintain security.
The MHA's role has recently undergone significant legislative changes. It strengthened terror jurisprudence by amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the NIA Act. Furthermore, the MHA oversaw the administration of the new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Most notably, the MHA replaced the colonial-era criminal laws with three new codes: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which came into force on July 1, 2024.