India starts process to adopt National Security Strategy

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: defence

Context: India has kickstarted the process of bringing in a National Security Strategy.

More about the news:

India has initiated the development of a National Security Strategy, marking a significant step in the country’s military and strategic planning.
The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is currently gathering inputs from various central ministries and departments to compile the initial draft of the strategy.
The timeline for the completion of the strategy remains uncertain, although numerous ministries have already submitted their inputs to the NSCS on various aspects of the comprehensive document.
This marks the first instance of India formulating a National Security Strategy, reflecting the nation’s evolving approach to security and defense planning.

What is a National Security Strategy:

A National Security Strategy document delineates a nation’s security goals and the strategies necessary to accomplish them.
It delineates both conventional and non-traditional threats and opportunities while instilling accountability within the agencies responsible for implementing these actions.
In essence, a national security strategy serves as a guiding framework for the military and vital defense and security reforms, offering a comprehensive perspective on national security, the challenges it faces, and the strategies to tackle them.

Which countries have a National Security Strategy:

Many developed countries maintain a National Security Strategy, periodically updated to outline security objectives and strategies. Notable examples include the US, UK, Russia, China (Comprehensive National Security), and Pakistan (National Security Policy 2022-2026), each emphasizing their national security priorities and objectives.

What is India’s need for a National Security Strategy:

The complexity of modern security threats and geopolitical uncertainties have prompted the need for this strategy.
Prominent figures, including former Army Chief General NC Vij, have emphasized the necessity of revising existing military directives and initiating major military reforms through the framework of a national security strategy.
It has been proposed that a white paper on defense should be produced to elucidate India’s stance on significant defense matters while the national security strategy is being developed.
This strategy is considered crucial for guiding military reforms in a coherent manner.

Why did India never have a national security strategy:

Three previous efforts to formulate a national security strategy in India were thwarted, and political hesitancy appeared to be the main impediment.
Security experts suggest that the government may have been apprehensive about the increased accountability it would impose on defense management.
Various reasons have been proposed by strategic experts for India’s failure to develop a national security strategy in the past, including a lack of coordinated, whole-of-government collaboration, and potential reluctance on the government’s part to disclose its national security goals to the public.

What is the National Security Council (NSC):

The National Security Council (NSC) of India, established in 1998, plays a crucial role by offering guidance to the Prime Minister’s Office regarding national security and strategic concerns.
India’s national security management system operates within a three-tiered structure, with the NSC at its apex.
This three-tiered system encompasses the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board, and a secretariat supplied by the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).
At the helm of the NSC is the National Security Advisor (NSA), who not only presides over the council but also serves as the principal advisor to the Prime Minister.
The NSA’s dual role involves providing essential advice to the Prime Minister on a wide range of national security issues.

What is the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)

NSCS is the apex agency looking into the political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns of India.
The NSCS has four verticals:
- Strategic Planning;
- Internal Affairs;
- Intelligence and Technology;
- Military
National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) works under NSCS and coordinates with different agencies at the national level for cyber security matters.