Why in News:

• The Union government has asked the States to share more intelligence inputs through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau that was made operational in 2001 following the Kargil War.

About the initiative

• The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been given permission to establish a multi-agency centre (MAC) in New Delhi.
• MAC, which now operates 24*7 as the main organisation for exchanging intelligence information, collaborates with officials from several agencies and ministries, both national and state. 
• 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.

The need

• States are hesitant to disclose data on the platform.
• There are various gaps in the timely dissemination of essential information.
• Plans are afoot for more than a decade to link the system up to the district level.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/states-told-to-share-intel-on-common-grid/article38121929.ece