The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a Resolution on the Constitution of a High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) to undertake a scientific study of the nature, causes and consequences of demographic shifts taking place across the country and recommend suitable policy, administrative and legal measures.
The headquarters of the committee will be located in New Delhi. The Ministry of Home Affairs will provide administrative and logistical support to the panel.
The committee has been directed to submit its final report to the government within one year.
Centre flags illegal immigration concerns
The move comes amid growing concerns over demographic patterns in several regions, particularly in border districts, where authorities believe illegal immigration, irregular population movement and administrative gaps may be contributing to abnormal changes in population trends.
The Ministry said demographic changes observed in certain regions cannot be fully explained through normal fertility or mortality trends and may instead be linked to illegal immigration, irregular population mobility and abnormal settlement patterns. The Resolution further noted that the present institutional framework is not adequately equipped to undertake coordinated, evidence-based and time-bound responses to such demographic shifts.
According to the Resolution issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 26, 2026, the Centre said the impact of such demographic changes has now expanded beyond border areas and is increasingly affecting urban centres, industrial corridors, tribal belts and other socially and economically sensitive regions. The document noted that these developments were placing pressure on governance systems, public service delivery, resource distribution and social cohesion.
The newly formed High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes will function under the Ministry of Home Affairs and will conduct a nationwide assessment before submitting recommendations to the government.
Committee to be headed by a retired SC Judge
The committee will be chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (Retd.). The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, will serve as the Member Secretary.
Other members include:
- Census Commissioner
- Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Retd. IAS
- Shri Balaji Srivastava, Retd. IPS
- Dr. Shamika Ravi
The Resolution also stated that the committee may consult experts, security agencies, local governments, academic institutions and social organisations during the course of its study.
Eight-point mandate for committee
Under Clause 5 of the resolution, the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes has been assigned the following responsibilities:
- To undertake an extensive examination of challenges arising from demographic changes, including those linked to illegal immigration.
- To study possible causes behind such demographic shifts, including fertility variations, cross-border movement, economic opportunities and socio-environmental factors.
- To identify factors contributing to demographic imbalance, including illegal immigration, abnormal settlement trends and planned migration patterns.
- To analyse structural population changes among religious and social communities, especially where uniform trends are diverging.
- To recommend a permanent and legally structured mechanism for identification, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants residing in the country.
- To suggest institutional measures for strengthening border management, population stabilisation and identification systems for long-term monitoring.
- To propose a comprehensive policy framework to improve coordination between the Centre and states on matters related to illegal immigration and demographic imbalance.
- To recommend any additional measure considered necessary to address demographic challenges arising due to illegal immigration.
Under the Resolution, the committee has been empowered to seek records, information and documents from ministries, state governments and public authorities.
The panel will also have the authority to determine its own procedures for inquiry, consultation and analysis. With prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, it may form sub-committees and working groups for specialised examinations.