The government of India in July 2016 appointed Ashok Patnaik as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).
[4][5] During the inauguration of NATGRID campus in Bengaluru, MHA Amit Shah stated that a new national database is in the process of being made which will bring a change in the current ways of functioning of agencies once it's ready also adding that the government has entrusted the task of developing and operating a state-of-the-art and innovative technology system.
It is a counter terrorism measure that collects and collates a host of information from government databases including tax and bank account details, credit/debit card transactions, visa and immigration records and itineraries of rail and air travel.
[15] The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the initial two phases in 2011 which were operational by 2014 at a cost of ₹1,200 crores, with 10 user agencies and 21 service providers were connected while the first data sets retrievable from early 2013.
Retired Captain P. Raghu Raman on 1 December 2009 was appointed as the Secretary and CEO for NATGRID and tasked with the establishment of the grid.
[16] The implementation of the third and fourth phases are expected to require amendments to several laws to allow for the sharing and transfer of data on items such as property and bank transaction details and Internet usage.
Its efficacy in preventing terror have also been questioned given that no state agency or police force had access to its database until the implementation of its 2nd phase thus reducing chances of immediate, effective action.