Security around Delhi’s Red Fort is being significantly strengthened ahead of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 2026. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to hoist the national flag and address the nation from the historic monument, security agencies are combining large-scale police deployment with advanced technology.

One of the important tools expected to assist security personnel is the Abhigyan App, which can help officers quickly verify suspicious individuals through biometric information. Facial recognition-enabled CCTV cameras, AI-assisted surveillance and anti-drone systems are also being deployed as part of the wider security arrangement.

What Is the Abhigyan App?

The Abhigyan App has been developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to support law-enforcement personnel in identity verification and criminal-record checks.

The system allows authorised security personnel to conduct fingerprint-based verification using portable biometric equipment.

Instead of taking every suspicious individual to a police station for identification, officers can use handheld biometric devices or portable fingerprint scanners to perform an initial check at the location itself.

This capability can be particularly useful at crowded, sensitive events such as Independence Day celebrations.

How Does the Abhigyan App Work?

The Abhigyan system works with the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), which enables fingerprints to be checked against available records.

The verification process broadly works like this:

1. An authorised security officer scans a person's fingerprint using a portable biometric device.
2. The fingerprint information is checked against records available through NAFIS.
3. The system searches for a possible match in the database.
4. If a potential match is identified, authorised personnel can receive relevant information for further verification.
5. If no matching record is found, the system can indicate that no match has been detected.

The technology can significantly reduce the time required for preliminary identity checks, allowing security personnel to respond more quickly in sensitive situations.

Why Is Abhigyan Important for Red Fort Security?

The Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort is one of India's most closely guarded annual events. Thousands of guests, officials, security personnel and other attendees are expected to be present in and around the venue.

In such a crowded environment, manually transporting every suspicious person to a police station for verification would be difficult and time-consuming.

With portable biometric verification, security teams can conduct certain checks directly at the site.

The system can help officers quickly verify suspicious individuals, identify possible matches with available criminal records, reduce verification time and make faster security decisions.

However, a biometric match itself would generally be treated as an investigative lead requiring appropriate verification rather than automatically establishing wrongdoing.

Around 1,000 CCTV Cameras Deployed

Technology-based surveillance is not limited to fingerprint checks.

Around 1,000 CCTV cameras have reportedly been installed across the Red Fort and surrounding areas to strengthen monitoring during the Independence Day celebrations.

Some cameras are equipped with facial recognition technology, allowing security teams to identify people who may require additional verification.

High-resolution camera-equipped vehicles with facial recognition capabilities are also being deployed in sensitive areas.

How Facial Recognition Can Help Security Teams

Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) can analyse faces captured by surveillance cameras and compare them with authorised databases or watchlists.

If the system detects a potential match involving a wanted or flagged individual, an alert can be generated for security personnel.

The information can then be sent to a control room, where officials can assess the alert and decide whether further verification or action is necessary.

AI Surveillance Adds Another Security Layer

AI-enabled surveillance can help security teams monitor large volumes of CCTV footage more efficiently.

Rather than relying entirely on officers to continuously watch every camera feed, technology can assist in identifying unusual movements, suspicious activity or other predefined security triggers.

Human security personnel remain responsible for evaluating alerts and taking appropriate action.

Anti-Drone Measures to Guard the Airspace

The security arrangement around the Red Fort also extends to the airspace.

Anti-drone technology is expected to be part of the security network to detect and respond to unauthorised drones or other aerial threats around restricted areas.

This creates multiple security layers covering people on the ground as well as potential threats from above.

Technology to Support Security Personnel

The Abhigyan App represents one part of a broader technology-driven security strategy for August 15, 2026.

Fingerprint verification through NAFIS, facial recognition cameras, extensive CCTV monitoring, AI-assisted surveillance and anti-drone measures are intended to help security agencies identify potential risks more quickly.

The technology does not replace police personnel on the ground. Instead, it provides officers with additional tools to conduct faster checks and make informed decisions during one of India's most important national events.