From Retired SC Judge To An Economist: Who’s On Centre’s Demography Panel

Last Updated:May 27, 2026, 09:19 IST

The Centre has formed a High-Level Committee led by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar to study demographic changes arising from illegal immigration.

The Centre has constituted a high-level committee under retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar to assess demographic changes across India due to “illegal immigration and other unnatural causes". Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced the formation of the committee and said said infiltration and other reasons are causing “unnatural" demographic change.

According to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the committee has been tasked with studying patterns of demographic change across the country, identifying their causes, and suggesting legal, administrative, and policy measures to address the issue. The panel is expected to submit its report within a year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had first announced the proposed “High-powered Demography Mission" during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2025, and the Union Cabinet approved the proposal on September 11.

Here is a look at the members of the newly constituted committee:

Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar (Retd.) — Chairman: Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar will head the panel. Known for his experience in constitutional and criminal law matters, Navlekar previously served as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court.

Durga Shankar Mishra — Former IAS officer: A 1984-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Durga Shankar Mishra has held several high-profile administrative positions. He served as Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and earlier as Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary. Mishra also played a major role in the Smart Cities Mission and urban governance reforms.

Balaji Srivastava — Former IPS officer: Retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava brings policing and internal security experience to the committee. A former Delhi Police Commissioner, he has also served in key intelligence and security-related assignments during his career.

Dr Shamika Ravi — Economist and policy expert: Economist Dr Shamika Ravi is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and is known for her work on public policy, data analysis, and development economics. She has frequently written and spoken on governance, population trends, and socio-economic indicators.

Census Commissioner of India: The Census Commissioner, who will serve as an ex-officio member, is expected to provide demographic and population-related expertise to the committee. The office plays a crucial role in maintaining and analysing census and population data, which will likely form the backbone of the panel’s study on demographic shifts across states and communities.

The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) in the Ministry of Home Affairs will function as the Member Secretary of the committee and coordinate its work.

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