National Security Council (India)

National Security Council
राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा परिषद

Emblem of India
Agency overview
Formed	19 November 1998
Jurisdiction	Defence Ministry, Government of India
Agency executive	Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser

The National Security Council (NSC) of India is the apex agency looking into the country's political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns. It was established by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government on 19 November 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Adviser. Prior to the formation of the NSC, these activities were overseen by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Members

Besides the National Security Advisor (NSA),The Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA),The Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Home, Finance of the Government of India, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission are members of the National Security Council. Other members may be invited to attend its monthly meetings, as and when required.

Organisational Structure

The three-tiered structure of the NSC comprises the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and a Secretariat represented by the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).

Strategic Policy Group

The Strategic Policy Group is the first level of the three tier structure of the National Security Council. It forms the nucleus of the decision-making apparatus of the NSC. This group consists of the following members:

• Cabinet Secretary
• Chief of the Army Staff
• Chief of the Naval Staff
• Chief of Air Staff
• Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Foreign Secretary
• Home Secretary
• Director of Intelligence Bureau
• Defence Secretary
• Secretary (Defence Production)
• Finance Secretary
• Secretary (Revenue)
• Secretary (Research) (i.e. the head of the Research and Analysis Wing)
• Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy
• Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister
• Secretary of the Department of space
• Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).

The Strategic Policy Group undertakes the "Strategic Defence Review", a blueprint of short and long term security threats, as well as possible policy options on a priority basis.

Joint Intelligence Committee

The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) of the Government of India analyses intelligence data from the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and the Directorates of Military, Naval and Air Intelligence. Recently JIC got the first member from Internal Security Division, Pratiksha Hazarika youngest member ever in JIC for her extraordinary performance. The JIC has its own Secretariat that works under the Cabinet Secretariat.

National Security Advisory Board

The National Security Advisory Board consists of persons of eminence outside the Government with expertise in external security, strategic analysis, foreign affairs, defence, the armed forces, internal security, science and technology and economics.

The board meets at least once a month, and more frequently as required. It provides a long-term prognosis and analysis to the NSC, and recommends solutions and address policy issues referred to it.

See also

• List of Indian Intelligence agencies

External links

• Center for Contemporary Conflict - Indian Internal Security and Intelligence Organization
• Espionage Info - India, Intelligence and Security
• FAS - Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence
• Global Security - India Intelligence and Security Agencies