India observed the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2025. Police personnel and officials paid tributes to the 166 victims at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai — one of the key attack sites. The 26/11 attacks (November 26–29, 2008) were carried out by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who infiltrated India by sea from Pakistan. The coordinated attacks targeted multiple iconic locations: the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CSMT (railway station), Nariman House, Leopold Café, Cama Hospital, and Chabad House. The 60-hour siege left 166 dead and over 300 injured. Nine of the ten attackers were killed; Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was captured, tried, and hanged in November 2012. The attacks exposed critical gaps in India's coastal security, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency coordination. In response, India established the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2008, the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) was strengthened, the Coastal Security Scheme was revamped, and the Marine Police was upgraded. The attacks also led to the India–US Counter-terrorism Initiative and bilateral pressure on Pakistan to act against LeT and its chief Hafiz Saeed. The 26/11 anniversary is a moment for India to assess its counter-terrorism preparedness. In the context of Rajasthan — the state shares a long international border with Pakistan (1,048 km), making border security, BSF vigilance, and intelligence cooperation particularly critical. Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) plays a key role in counter-terror activities in the state.
26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack 17th Anniversary: Nation Pays Tribute to Martyrs; Anti-Terror Preparedness in Focus
India observed the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2025. Police personnel and officials paid tributes to the 166 victims at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai — one of the key attack sites. The 26/11 attacks (November 26–29, 2008) were carried out by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who infiltrated India by sea from Pakistan. The coordinated attacks targeted multiple iconic locations: the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CSMT (railway station), Nariman House, Leopold Café, Cama Hospital, and Chabad House. The 60-hour siege left 166 dead and over 300 injured. Nine of the ten attackers were killed; Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was captured, tried, and hanged in November 2012. The attacks exposed critical gaps in India's coastal security, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency coordination. In response, India established the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2008, the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) was strengthened, the Coastal Security Scheme was revamped, and the Marine Police was upgraded. The attacks also led to the India–US Counter-terrorism Initiative and bilateral pressure on Pakistan to act against LeT and its chief Hafiz Saeed. The 26/11 anniversary is a moment for India to assess its counter-terrorism preparedness. In the context of Rajasthan — the state shares a long international border with Pakistan (1,048 km), making border security, BSF vigilance, and intelligence cooperation particularly critical. Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) plays a key role in counter-terror activities in the state.
Key facts
- India observed the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2025.
- Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists carried out coordinated attacks killing 166 people in November 2008.
- The attacks targeted the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, CSMT, Oberoi Trident, and Nariman House.
- India established the NIA in 2008 and strengthened the Multi-Agency Centre after the attacks.
- Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was captured, tried, and executed in November 2012.
- Rajasthan shares a 1,048 km border with Pakistan making border security critically important.
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
- RAS 2016 Social consequences of terrorism — This PYQ asks about social consequences of terrorism; the article discusses the 26/11 anniversary and India's counter-terrorism institutional reforms.
Mains angle
Q: Assess the institutional reforms India undertook after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and their relevance to Rajasthan's border security preparedness.
Answer (50 words):
The 26/11 attacks in 2008 killed 166 people across multiple Mumbai sites, exposing gaps in coastal security and intelligence coordination. India established the NIA, strengthened the Multi-Agency Centre, and revamped the Coastal Security Scheme. For Rajasthan, sharing a 1,048-km border with Pakistan, BSF vigilance and the SOG's counter-terror role remain critically relevant.
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Source: Outlook India / Times of India / Saachi Baat / NDTV / PIB / Hindustan Times
Frequently asked questions
When did the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks occur and who carried them out?
The 26/11 attacks took place from November 26 to 29, 2008 in Mumbai. They were carried out by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who infiltrated India by sea from Pakistan, conducting coordinated attacks on multiple iconic locations over 60 hours.
What were the key targets of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the total casualty count?
The attacks targeted the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, and Chabad House. The 60-hour siege resulted in 166 deaths and over 300 injured.
What institutional changes did India make in response to the 26/11 attacks?
In response to the 26/11 attacks, India established the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2008 to investigate terrorism and national security offences. The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) for intelligence sharing was also significantly strengthened, and coastal security infrastructure was overhauled.
What happened to the sole captured terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab?
Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was the only attacker captured alive during the 26/11 attacks. He was tried in a special court in India, convicted, and executed by hanging on November 21, 2012 at Yerwada Central Jail, Pune.
Why is the 26/11 anniversary relevant for Rajasthan and RPSC exam aspirants?
Rajasthan shares a 1,048 km international border with Pakistan, making anti-terrorism measures and border security critically important for the state. For RPSC aspirants, 26/11 is relevant to topics on internal security, counter-terrorism, national investigation agencies, and India-Pakistan relations — all covered under the General Studies syllabus.
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