The National Security Council of India Explained

The National Security Council (NSC) of India is the apex advisory body, set up in November 1998, that advises the Prime Minister and the government on national and strategic security and brings the political, military, intelligence and diplomatic arms of the state together on security questions. The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister and supported by the National Security Adviser (NSA), who is the Prime Minister’s principal adviser on security.

The National Security Council works through a three-tier structure made up of the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and the National Security Council Secretariat. It advises rather than decides: formal decisions on security matters are taken by the government, with the Cabinet Committee on Security as the key decision-making forum.

Key Takeaways

• The National Security Council of India was constituted on 19 November 1998 as the apex body to advise the Prime Minister on national security and strategic issues.
• The National Security Adviser is the Prime Minister’s principal adviser on national and international security and serves as the executive head of the national security machinery.
• The National Security Council has a three-tier structure: the Strategic Policy Group of senior officials, the National Security Advisory Board of non-official experts, and the National Security Council Secretariat.
• The National Security Council is an advisory body, and decisions on security are taken by the government, with the Cabinet Committee on Security as the principal decision-making forum.
• The Defence Planning Committee, formed in April 2018 under the National Security Adviser, prepares defence and security strategy and capability plans.
• The National Security Council was created after the nuclear tests of May 1998 and shaped by later reviews, including the Kargil Review Committee report of 1999 and the Group of Ministers report of 2001.

What is the National Security Council of India?

The National Security Council of India is a government body created in 1998 to give the Prime Minister integrated advice on security, covering defence, foreign policy, internal security, intelligence and economic and technological aspects. India set up the body on 19 November 1998, a few months after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of May 1998, as the country moved to a declared nuclear weapon posture and needed a stronger system for strategic decisions.

Several countries have similar bodies. The United States National Security Council was created by statute in 1947, and the United Kingdom set up a National Security Council in 2010. India’s Council was set up by a government decision and not by an Act of Parliament, so its composition and procedures are determined by executive orders.

Why was the National Security Council set up?

The National Security Council was set up because India wanted a permanent mechanism to review security threats, coordinate between ministries and agencies, and prepare long-term strategic assessments. Before 1998, security matters were handled through the Cabinet Committee on Security and through ad hoc arrangements, with the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) preparing intelligence assessments under the Cabinet Secretariat.

Later events shaped the system.

• Kargil conflict, 1999: the Kargil Review Committee, headed by K. Subrahmanyam, examined the intelligence and security lapses and recommended reforms in the national security system, including the working of the NSC.
• Group of Ministers report, 2001: a Group of Ministers reviewed the recommendations in a report titled Reforming the National Security System and proposed measures such as a Chief of Defence Staff, a Defence Intelligence Agency and a National Technical Facilities Organisation.
• Later reforms: the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) was set up in 2004, the Defence Intelligence Agency in 2002, and the post of Chief of Defence Staff was created in December 2019.

Who are the members of the National Security Council?

The members of the National Security Council are the Prime Minister as chairperson, the Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, External Affairs and Finance, the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and the National Security Adviser. The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission was the original member, and the seat is now linked to NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.

Other persons may be invited to attend meetings as needed, such as the Cabinet Secretary, the Chiefs of Staff and heads of intelligence agencies. The Council has met as required and its deliberations are not usually made public, as they relate to sensitive matters of security.

Who is the National Security Adviser and what does the role involve?

The National Security Adviser (NSA) is the senior official who advises the Prime Minister on national and international security and who heads the National Security Council Secretariat. The NSA is appointed by the Prime Minister and holds office at the pleasure of the government, and the post has no statutory basis.

The first NSA was Brajesh Mishra, who held the post along with that of Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The two posts were separated in 2004. The responsibilities of the NSA include the following.

• Advising the Prime Minister on external, internal and strategic security matters.
• Coordinating the work of intelligence agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau, the Research and Analysis Wing and the NTRO, and the assessments of the Joint Intelligence Committee.
• Heading the Strategic Policy Group, which has been reported to be chaired by the NSA since a 2018 reconstitution, having been chaired earlier by the Cabinet Secretary.
• Chairing the Defence Planning Committee and serving as head of the Executive Council of the Nuclear Command Authority.
• Acting as a special representative in some dialogues with other countries on border and strategic issues.

What is the three-tier structure of the National Security Council?

The three-tier structure of the National Security Council consists of the Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). The three bodies together bring in government officials, outside experts and administrative support.

The Strategic Policy Group

The Strategic Policy Group is the inter-ministerial forum that prepares the ground for the Council. Its role is to carry out the detailed review of issues and to present the options, and it integrates inputs from the armed forces, the ministries and the intelligence agencies.

The National Security Advisory Board

The National Security Advisory Board is a body of outside experts that gives the government independent long-term advice. Its first convener was K. Subrahmanyam, a well-known strategic analyst, and its early work included a draft report on India’s nuclear doctrine released in August 1999. The Board is reconstituted from time to time and its members serve for a fixed term.

The National Security Council Secretariat

The National Security Council Secretariat is the permanent administrative arm of the Council. It is part of the Cabinet Secretariat and the Joint Intelligence Committee was merged into it in 1999. The NSCS follows developments in areas such as cyber security, space, maritime security and strategic technologies, and a National Cyber Security Coordinator works within it.

What is the Defence Planning Committee and how does it relate to the NSC?

The Defence Planning Committee (DPC) is a permanent body set up in April 2018 under the chairmanship of the National Security Adviser to prepare integrated defence plans. It links the security thinking of the National Security Council with defence planning, procurement and diplomacy.

The members of the DPC include the Chief of Defence Staff (earlier the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee), the three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary (Expenditure) in the Ministry of Finance. The Committee works through four sub-committees.

• Policy and Strategy: national defence and security strategy, strategic security review and doctrines.
• Plans and Capability Development: military capability planning and acquisition plans.
• Defence Diplomacy: international defence engagement and cooperation.
• Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem: domestic defence production and technology capabilities.

How does the National Security Council coordinate security policy?

The National Security Council coordinates security policy by collecting inputs from ministries, the armed forces and intelligence agencies through the Strategic Policy Group and the Secretariat, and by presenting integrated assessments and options to the Prime Minister. The Council does not command forces or run agencies, and it does not replace the role of the ministries.

The coordination takes place at several points.

• Intelligence assessment: the Joint Intelligence Committee, working within the NSCS, assesses inputs from civil and military intelligence agencies.
• Decision-making: the Cabinet Committee on Security, which includes the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance and External Affairs, takes the formal decisions on matters such as major defence purchases and appointments.
• Nuclear command: the Nuclear Command Authority, set up in January 2003, has a Political Council chaired by the Prime Minister and an Executive Council chaired by the National Security Adviser.
• Policy documents: the Council system prepares inputs for strategic reviews and for sectoral policies such as cyber security.

What are the limits of and debates about the National Security Council?

The National Security Council has limits because it is an advisory body without a statutory basis, and debates have arisen about its transparency, its mandate and its reach. These points are discussed in strategic and policy circles and in academic work.

Points often made by supporters

• A single advisory mechanism under the Prime Minister allows quick coordination of defence, intelligence, diplomatic and economic inputs.
• The inclusion of non-official experts through the NSAB brings outside views into the system.
• Flexible arrangements allow the Prime Minister to adapt the system to emerging areas such as cyber and space security.

Points often made by critics and analysts

• The Council is not created by law, and its working, meetings and outputs are not available to Parliament or the public in detail.
• Analysts have said that India has not regularly published a national security strategy of the kind found in some other countries.
• Some observers have noted that the NSA also holds many roles, and that this concentration can reduce the role of formal institutions such as the Cabinet and its committees.

The structure has also evolved with new bodies such as the Defence Planning Committee and the post of Chief of Defence Staff, which suggests that the security system continues to be adjusted over time.

Bottom Line

The National Security Council of India, set up in 1998, is the Prime Minister’s apex advisory body on security, supported by the National Security Adviser and a three-tier structure of the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and the Secretariat. It coordinates advice and assessments, while formal decisions rest with the government and the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Security Council of India?

The National Security Council of India is the apex advisory body that advises the Prime Minister on national and strategic security. It was set up on 19 November 1998 and is chaired by the Prime Minister. It brings together the Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, External Affairs and Finance and the National Security Adviser.

Who is the National Security Adviser of India?

The National Security Adviser is the Prime Minister’s principal adviser on national and international security and the head of the National Security Council Secretariat. The NSA is appointed by the Prime Minister, and the first holder of the post was Brajesh Mishra in 1998. The holder of the office changes with decisions of the government, so the current name should be checked in official sources.

What are the three tiers of the National Security Council?

The three tiers are the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and the National Security Council Secretariat. The Strategic Policy Group has senior officials, the Advisory Board has outside experts, and the Secretariat provides administrative and analytical support. Together they feed advice to the National Security Council.

Is the National Security Council a statutory body?

No, the National Security Council of India is not a statutory body and was created by a government decision, not by an Act of Parliament. Its composition and functions are set by executive orders. This differs from the United States National Security Council, which was created by statute in 1947.

What is the Defence Planning Committee?

The Defence Planning Committee is a body set up in April 2018 and chaired by the National Security Adviser to prepare defence and security strategy and capability plans. Its members include the Chief of Defence Staff, the three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary (Expenditure). It works through four sub-committees on strategy, capability, diplomacy and defence manufacturing.

Does the National Security Council make decisions on security?

No, the National Security Council advises the Prime Minister, and formal decisions are taken by the government, mainly through the Cabinet Committee on Security. The Council analyses issues, reviews threats and presents options. The Cabinet Committee on Security then decides on matters such as defence acquisitions and major security policies.

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