National Security Council

• 24 Jul 2021

Why in News

Amid the Pegasus Controversy, it was reported that the Union Government’s expenditure on the National Security Council secretariat (NSCS) increased ten fold in 2017-18 to Rs 333 crores from Rs 33 cr. in 2016-17.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • NSC of India is a three-tiered organization that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.
  • The National Security Advisor (NSA) presides over the NSC, and is also the primary advisor to the prime minister. The current National Security Advisor is Ajit Doval.
• Formation:
  
  • It was formed in 1998, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon.
• Three tier Structure:
  
  • NSC comprises the three tier structure- Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat.
    
    • The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of the relevant inputs.
    • The NSAB undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives on issues of national security.
• Function:
  
  • It operates within the executive office of the prime minister of India, liaising between the government’s executive branch and the intelligence services, advising leadership on intelligence and security issues.
• Members:
  
  • The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are its members.

Source: TH