Search Indian Maps, Pincodes, Local Info and more...
National Security Council
The NSC or National Security Council is the topmost agency of the country which looks after the security of the strategic, social, economic, political and energy resources. Mr. Brijesh Mishra was the first Advisor (NSA) of National Security Council, the body which was constituted in 1998 by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Before the formation of NSC these concerns were looked after the Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister of India.
Members of NSC
Besides the NSA the NSC has the following members:
- Defense Minister
- Home Minister
- Minister of External Affairs
- Finance Minister
- Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
Other members can also be invited in the monthly meetings of the NSC.
Organizational Tree
It is a three tier organization divided into three groups:
Group for Strategic Policies
This is tier one of the structure of the NSC and forms the nucleus. It is the apex decision making body of the NSC. This group takes into consideration the long and short term security threats before the nation and makes national policy taking them into consideration on the basis of priority.
National Board of Security Advisors
This board does not have members from the government. But persons of eminence outside the government are the members of this board. The members are experts in the field of external and internal security, strategic analysis, foreign affairs, defense matters, science, technology and economics. The meeting of the board is compulsorily held once in a month. However it can be held more frequently if required. It provides inputs for the consideration of the NSC. It also recommends solutions to the various problems referred to it.
Separate Secretariat
This is represented by Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC). JIC analyzes the intelligence inputs received from the Intelligence Bureau, RAW and Military, Navy and Air Intelligence Directorates. This secretariat works under the Cabinet Secretariat.
National Security Advisor
The National Security Advisor (NSA) is the Chief Executive of the NSC and primary advisor to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet on internal and international security issues. NSA heads the security agencies like RAW and IB (India) for the Prime Minister of India. Due its position, the NSA is a very influential office in India, internally and internationally.
Need for NSC
First, the political views on the national security are dissonant, like the incongruity regarding the foreign policies; thus government’s agenda on such issues is unsteady. Yet another example is the disagreement on the problem of Maoism and the policies towards Kashmir and insurgencies in the North East.
Consequently after the Mumbai terror attacks, the government’s response was questioned; some supported the restraint while some saw the Government as weak and still today there is no concrete policy towards such terror attacks.
Secondly, the various Government agencies lack the co-ordination needed to provide effective national security. The NSC was innovative but it lacks in power and resources, while bureaucracy is strong and there is no congruency regarding various issues of national security.