Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said India’s intelligence and enforcement agencies must stay alert and resourceful in the face of a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment, which is making their responsibilities more complex and urgent.
Speaking at the inauguratal event for the new headquarters of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in New Delhi, Sitharaman said there was a need to go beyond surface-level enforcement and expose deeper systemic threats.
“Keep the big picture in mind, leverage all available resources to uncover deeper systemic risks and threads by connecting dots,” she said, adding: “No good if you catch the small fish — the bigger ones are the ones not being touched by our system. We must take down those nefarious chains.”
She noted that while national security may not always appear to be a public concern, such issues “do worry people” and must remain a priority for investigative and intelligence agencies.
‘Need sharper focus, fair rules, trust-based compliance’
Sitharaman said agencies must decide “which case or incident takes precedence over others” and act accordingly.
“There should be a more meaningful way to optimise time and resources,” the FM noted.
She also flagged the need for intelligence agencies to be more alert and responsive in real-time.
Calling the DRI the “key guardians of India's security and economic front,” Sitharaman praised the agency’s performance in recent years, especially in tackling drug trafficking and other economic threats.
“Where there is a ‘chalta hai’ attitude in many departments in the country, your work stands out in the past two years,” she said.
Further, she urged the agency to remain grounded despite its achievements.
“It is important for us to be well grounded, despite as much success as we find,” the FM said.
Push for modern tech, internal coordination
Sitharaman called for deeper technological integration in DRI operations, noting that modern tools must be embedded into its systems.
She also underlined the importance of internal collaboration: “Internal coordination, when well managed, makes outcomes better. ‘Reform, perform and transform’ is the spirit with which we should move forward, as said by PM Modi," said Sitharaman.
Moreover, the FM laid out three guiding principles for the agency’s approach: rules must be applied fairly, public confidence in the trade system must be maintained, and enforcement must be intelligent and high-impact.
“Value- and trust-based compliance is important, not fear-induced compliance,” she said.
Speaking at the inauguratal event for the new headquarters of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in New Delhi, Sitharaman said there was a need to go beyond surface-level enforcement and expose deeper systemic threats.
“Keep the big picture in mind, leverage all available resources to uncover deeper systemic risks and threads by connecting dots,” she said, adding: “No good if you catch the small fish — the bigger ones are the ones not being touched by our system. We must take down those nefarious chains.”
She noted that while national security may not always appear to be a public concern, such issues “do worry people” and must remain a priority for investigative and intelligence agencies.
‘Need sharper focus, fair rules, trust-based compliance’
Sitharaman said agencies must decide “which case or incident takes precedence over others” and act accordingly.
“There should be a more meaningful way to optimise time and resources,” the FM noted.
She also flagged the need for intelligence agencies to be more alert and responsive in real-time.
Calling the DRI the “key guardians of India's security and economic front,” Sitharaman praised the agency’s performance in recent years, especially in tackling drug trafficking and other economic threats.
“Where there is a ‘chalta hai’ attitude in many departments in the country, your work stands out in the past two years,” she said.
Further, she urged the agency to remain grounded despite its achievements.
“It is important for us to be well grounded, despite as much success as we find,” the FM said.
Push for modern tech, internal coordination
Sitharaman called for deeper technological integration in DRI operations, noting that modern tools must be embedded into its systems.
She also underlined the importance of internal collaboration: “Internal coordination, when well managed, makes outcomes better. ‘Reform, perform and transform’ is the spirit with which we should move forward, as said by PM Modi," said Sitharaman.
Moreover, the FM laid out three guiding principles for the agency’s approach: rules must be applied fairly, public confidence in the trade system must be maintained, and enforcement must be intelligent and high-impact.
“Value- and trust-based compliance is important, not fear-induced compliance,” she said.
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