National Security Council (India)

The National Security Council (NSC) of India is the apex agency looking into the political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns of India. It was established by the A B Vajpayee government on 19 November 1998, with Brijesh Mishra as the first National Security Advisor.

Prior to the formation of the NSC, these activities were overseen by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

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Members

Besides the National Security Advisor, 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.

Organization

The three-tiered organization 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 organization 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
• Chairman CBDT
• Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force
• Director of Intelligence Bureau
• Foreign Secretary
• Home Secretary
• Defence Secretary
• Secretary (Defence Production)
• Finance Secretary
• Secretary (Revenue)
• Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Cabinet Secretariat
• Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy
• Scientific Advisor to the Defense Minister
• Secretary of the Department of Space
• Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).

The Strategic Policy Group undertakes the Strategic Defense 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 analyzes intelligence data from the Intelligence Bureau, R&AW and the Directorates of Military, Naval and Air Intelligence. 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

• National Security Advisor
• Intelligence Bureau
• Intelligence Bureau (India)
• List of Indian Intelligence agencies
• Research and Analysis Wing
• Strategic Policy Group

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