New Delhi, March 04, 2025:
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) successfully hosted the Homeland Security 2025 Conference and the 8th Edition of the SMART Policing Awards at FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi. The event brought together top law enforcement officials, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss modern policing challenges and recognize innovative and technology-driven law enforcement practices across India.
A key highlight was the FICCI SMART Policing Awards Felicitation Ceremony, in which outstanding initiatives taken by various State Police Departments including Delhi, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, and central agencies like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Railway Protection Force (RFF) were felicitated. These awards celebrated their contributions in Child Safety, Community Policing, Crime Investigation & Prosecution, Cyber Crime Management, Disaster & emergency response, Human Trafficking, Road Safety & Traffic Management, Smart Police Station , Surveillance & Monitoring, Training and Capacity Building, Women Safety and Other Policing Initiative.
Addressing the gathering, former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai highlighted the growing challenge of communal tensions and the crucial role of law enforcement in managing freedom of speech-related conflicts. Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling, he stressed the urgent need for better police training to handle sensitive situations proactively.
Adding to the discussion, Ashish Kansal, Co-Chair of FICCI Defence & Homeland Security Committee and CEO, SMPP, underscored the increasing complexity of policing in India. He stressed the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and the Indian industry to develop tailored technological solutions for security challenges.
Echoing the need for innovation, Ashok Atluri, Co-Chair of FICCI Defence & Homeland Security Committee Chairman & MD of Zen Technologies, pointed out the roadblocks in police procurement processes, which often hinder access to cutting-edge solutions. He urged the government to encourage indigenous technology under the “Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured” (IDDM) category to strengthen policing capabilities.
Bringing in a practical perspective, Arun Kumar, IPS (Retd.), Former DG, RPF reflected on the balance between technology and human intelligence in law enforcement. Recalling UP STF’s pioneering use of mobile surveillance in the 1990s, he warned against excessive reliance on technology, stressing that traditional ground-level policing remains indispensable.
Highlighting a critical security concern, Maj Gen Praveen Chhabra from the NSG, Ministry of Home Affairs, addressed the escalating threat of IEDs in insurgency-affected regions. He called upon the industry to innovate advanced detection technologies, including nuclear magnetic resonance and satellite imaging, to counter increasingly sophisticated explosives.
The event also saw the launch of the ‘Compendium of Best Practices in SMART Policing,’ showcasing real-world success stories from police forces across India. The FICCI Homeland Security Conference 2025 reaffirmed the need for collaborative efforts between law enforcement, industry, and policymakers to drive modernization, intelligence-led policing, and technological innovation.
