Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that a high-level committee has been constituted to examine the unnatural demographic change across the country, emphasising on several key factors, including infiltration.

The committee will be chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (Retd) and will include four other members.

The remaining four members of the panel are Census Commissioner, Durga Shankar Mishra (Retd IAS), Balaji Srivastava (Retd IPS), and Dr Shamika Ravi

The committee will have the Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, as the Member Secretary.

Taking to X, Shah said, "Infiltration and other reasons causing Unnatural Demographic Change pose a very significant challenge to the present and future of any nation. To address this very challenge, on 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the High-Level Committee on Demographic Change. I am delighted to inform you that the government has now constituted this committee."

What is demographic change and why is it concerning?

Demographic change within a territory means shifts in the characteristics of the population inhabiting it over time. These changes include population size, age structure, death rate, birth rate, migration patterns and ethno-religious compositions.

ALSO READ: From Rs 1 Lakh Cr Job Scheme To GST Reforms To Sudarshan Chakra Mission: PM Modi's BIG Announcements On I-Day

In India, concerns have been raised over rampant shifts in migration patterns and religious compositions, especially in regions like the Northeast. The leaders of the ruling BJP have often raised the issue, arguing that it could affect communal harmony to the disadvantage of the native tribal population in the Northeast and other states like Jharkhand. Besides, analysts have also referred to a rampant shift as a threat to national security, economic growth and regional stability in border areas.

What will committee do?

Shah said that demographic change is a serious issue for the country, as it is linked not only to the nation's sovereignty but also to security, law and order.

The demographic change has a profound impact on social structure and the preservation of tribal society. The high-level panel is tasked to conduct a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes occurring across the regions in India due to unnatural causes, including illegal immigration.

ALSO READ: Jharkhand Hindu Population To Decline By 50% In 20 Years, Claims BJP's Himanta Sarma

As part of the task, the committee will also analyse patterns in abnormal population shifts at the levels of religious and social communities. After a detailed root cause analysis, the panel would provide a planned and time-bound solution to deal with the trend.