Central Idea

India is embarking on a historic journey as it initiates the development of its inaugural National Security Strategy (NSS).
The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is actively collecting insights and inputs from diverse Central ministries and departments, laying the foundation for a comprehensive strategy that will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s interests.

Explained: National Security Strategy

Crucial Milestone: India’s NSS represents its first-ever comprehensive document that outlines security objectives and strategies.
Periodically Updated: The NSS evolves over time, addressing both traditional and non-traditional threats while fostering accountability among agencies tasked with implementation.
Guiding Holistic Security: The NSS will serve as a guiding framework for military, defense, and security reforms, offering a holistic perspective on national security, threats, and strategies to counter them.

Modern Challenges: The NSS is poised to encompass a broad spectrum of contemporary challenges, including financial and economic security, food and energy security, information warfare, critical information infrastructure vulnerabilities, supply chain concerns, and environmental issues.
Comprehensive Approach: It will adopt a comprehensive approach to tackling emerging threats, aligning with India’s evolving security landscape.

Established Nations with NSS: Developed nations with robust military and security infrastructures maintain National Security Strategies, updated periodically. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia have published their NSS.
China’s Comprehensive National Security: China has a closely integrated Comprehensive National Security strategy, tightly linked to its governance structure.
Pakistan’s National Security Policy: Pakistan recently unveiled a National Security Policy for 2022-2026, outlining its national security objectives and priorities.

Long-Debated Need: The idea of a National Security Strategy for India has long been debated within military circles and the strategic community.
Urgency in Uncertain Times: Rising geopolitical tensions and the uncertain global environment have heightened the urgency for India to formulate a comprehensive strategy.
Relevance Highlighted: Experts and former officials emphasize that a national security strategy is vital to provide clear political direction to the Armed Forces, guide military reforms, and address modern security challenges effectively.

Failed Attempts: India has previously made three attempts to develop a national security strategy, all without fruition.
Political Hesitation: Some speculate that hesitation at the political level, driven by concerns about accountability in defense management, may have impeded the strategy’s release.
Varied Views: There have been differing views within the strategic community regarding the absence of a national security strategy, ranging from a lack of cohesive government efforts to intentional non-disclosure of national security objectives.

India’s journey towards formulating its National Security Strategy marks a significant milestone in its quest for a well-defined and coordinated approach to security.
As India forges ahead, this inaugural strategy promises to provide a roadmap for addressing complex security challenges, ensuring national interests are protected, and fostering a secure future in an ever-evolving world.