Multi Agency Centre (MAC)

Multi Agency Centre (MAC)

Part of: Prelims and GS-III -Security

Context The Union government has asked the States to share more intelligence inputs through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC).

• It is a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau that was made operational in 2001 following the Kargil War.
• As many as 28 organisations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), armed forces and State police, are part of the platform. 
• Various security agencies share real-time intelligence inputs on the MAC.

About the Centre

• MAC was formed in December 2001 following the Kargil intrusion and the subsequent overhaul of the Indian national security apparatus suggested by the Kargil Review Committee report and GoM report. 
• Accordingly, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was authorized to create a multi-agency centre (MAC) in New Delhi. 
• Now functioning 24/7 as the nodal body for sharing intelligence inputs, MAC coordinates with representatives from numerous agencies, different ministries, both central and state.
• As noted in a 2016 parliamentary report the major contributors of intelligence inputs to the MAC were the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).