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Journalism of Courage
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November 19: The much-awaited National Security Council (NSC) was today formally announced by the Prime Minister’s Office, with a three-tier structure that has in-built defects. The NSC, as envisaged in the announcement, is going to be a replication of the government in a different form.
While the core Council will consist of strategic Raisina Hill ministries like Home, Defence, Finance, External Affairs, but with the addition of Planning Commission, the crucial National Security Advisor is going to be the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. India’s strategic experts have long held that the NSA should be a political heavyweight who is not within the government.
The secretariat of the NSC will be provided by the Joint Intelligence Committee, while the other layers will be the Strategic Policy Group and the National Security Board. The former will comprise the three service chiefs, secretaries to the strategic ministries, Governor of Reserve Bank, Director Intelligence Bureau and the RevenueSecretary. This group will be responsible for formulating the equally awaited Strategic Defence Review.
The National Security Board, on the other hand, will comprise “persons of eminence from the government” handling science and technology, and security, external and internal. The Board will study the country’s long-term strategic interests.
