National Security Advisor (India) Explained

Post:National Security Advisor
Body:India
Native Name:Bhārata kē Rāṣṭrīya Surakṣā Salāhakāra
Flag:Flag of India.svg
Flagsize:100px
Flagborder:yes
Insignia:Emblem of India.svg
Insigniasize:50px
Flagcaption:Flag of India
Insigniacaption:Emblem of India
Appointer:Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
Incumbent:Ajit Doval, KC
Incumbentsince:30 May 2014
Inaugural:Brajesh Mishra, IFS
Member Of:
Deputy:
Abbreviation:NSA
Department:National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)
Seat:Secretariat Building, New Delhi, India

The National Security Advisor (NSA; ISO:) is the senior official on the National Security Council of India, and the chief advisor to the Prime Minister of India on national security policy and international affairs. In 2019, the term of Ajit Doval the current NSA was extended for another 5-year term, and has been assigned the rank of a Union Cabinet Minister[1] and ranks at the seventh position in the Indian Order of Precedence.[2]

History

Brajesh Mishra, then Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, was appointed as the first National Security Advisor of India. The post was created on 19 November 1998 by then government headed by Atal Bihari Bajpayee.[3] In 2004, a new government headed by Manmohan Singh was formed at the centre. This government separated the office of NSA into foreign headed by former Foreign Secretary J.N. Dixit and internal headed by former Director, IB M.K. Narayanan.[4] After the death of Dixit in 2005, the office was again fused and Narayanan became the full-time NSA.[5] He was then succeeded by former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon in 2010. In 2014, the Modi-led government appointed former Director, IB Ajit Doval as the NSA.

Role

The post has high vested powers, so the NSA is a highly prominent and powerful office in the Government of India. All NSAs appointed since the inception of the post in 1998 belong to the either Indian Foreign Service or to the Indian Police Service, and serve at the discretion of the Prime Minister of India.

The National Security Advisor (NSA) is tasked with regularly advising the Prime Minister of India on all matters relating to internal and external threats and opportunities to India, and oversees strategic and sensitive issues on behalf of the Prime Minister. The NSA of India also serves as the Prime Minister's Special Interlocutor with China as well as the envoy to Pakistan and Israel on security affairs.

The NSA receives all intelligence (R&AW, IB, NTRO, MI, DIA, NIA) reports and co-ordinates them to present before the Prime Minister. NSA is assisted by the Deputy National Security Advisors (Deputy NSAs). Currently, retired IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar, former R&AW chief Rajinder Khanna and retired IFS officer Pankaj Saran[6] serve as Deputy National Security Advisors.[7] [8] The policy group is the main mechanism for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of inputs in forming national security policies. The group members include the NITI Aayog vice chairman, the cabinet secretary, the three military chiefs, the Reserve Bank of India governor, the foreign secretary, home secretary, finance secretary and the defense secretary.[9]

In June, 2019 NSA Ajit Doval was elevated to the rank of Cabinet Minister with a second 5-year term.[10]

List of National Security Advisors

NoNamePortraitTerm of officePrevious Post(s) heldPrime MinisterAdditional NSADeputy NSA(s)
1Brajesh Mishra, IFS19 November 199822 May 2004 Atal Bihari Vajpayee(Post created)
2J. N. Dixit, IFS23 May 20043 January 2005Foreign SecretaryManmohan Singh
3M. K. Narayanan, IPS3 January 200523 January 2010Director, Intelligence Bureau
  • Leela K Ponappa (May 2007 - October 2009)
  • Shekhar Dutt (27 July 2007 - 2009) [12]
  • Alok Prasad (October 2009 - January 2011) [13]
4Shivshankar Menon,[14] IFS24 January 201026 May 2014
  • Vijaya Latha Reddy (March 2011 - March 2013) [15]
  • Nehchal Sandhu (21 March 2013 - 31 July 2014)
5Ajit Doval, IPS30 May 2014Incumbent(Period Co-terminus with term of Prime Minister)Director, Intelligence BureauNarendra ModiRajinder Khanna (15 July 2024 – Incumbent)

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Ajit Doval Stays As NSA, Gets Cabinet Rank With 5-Year Term . 23 February 2023 . NDTV.com.
  2. News: Roche . Elizabeth . Mr Ajit Doval to stay as NSA, gets cabinet rank with 5-year term . 23 February 2023 . mint . 3 June 2019 . en.
  3. Web site: Singh. Hemant. 2019-08-12. List of National Security Advisor in India. 2021-02-17. Jagranjosh.com.
  4. Web site: 2004-05-27. JN Dixit Is NSA. 2021-02-17. The Financial Express.
  5. News: 2011-03-15. 25259: After Dixit, India ponders role of its NSA and who will get the job. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-02-17. 0971-751X.
  6. Web site: 29 May 2018. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India. ACC Approvals. 2021-09-06. pib.gov.in.
  7. Web site: Former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna appointed deputy NSA. January 2, 2018. Hindustan Times. New Delhi. January 15, 2018.
  8. Web site: Former RAW Chief Rajinder Khanna Appointed Deputy National Security Advisor. January 3, 2018. NDTV. New Delhi. January 15, 2018.
  9. Web site: Sharma. Neeta. 9 October 2018. With New Order, NSA Ajit Doval To Be Most Powerful Bureaucrat In 20 Years. 2021-09-06. NDTV.
  10. Web site: Ajit Doval to stay as NSA, gets cabinet rank with 5-year term. Roche. Elizabeth. 2019-06-03. Livemint. en. 2020-04-26.
  11. Web site: Chaudhury. Nilova Roy. 2007-04-19. Leela K Ponappa appointed Deputy NSA. 2021-09-06. Hindustan Times. en.
  12. Web site: 27 July 2007. Shekhar Dutt appointed Deputy National Security Advisor. 2021-09-06. Outlook India.
  13. Web site: 8 October 2009. IFS Officer Alok Prasad appointed as Dy NSA. 2023-04-17. Deccan Herald.
  14. News: 21 January 2010. Menon is next NSA. The Hindu. 6 September 2021.
  15. News: 18 December 2012. Outgoing Intelligence Bureau Director Nehchal Sandhu appointed as Deputy National Security Advisor. The Economic Times. 2021-09-06.
  16. News: Haidar . Suhasini . Former China envoy Vikram Misri appointed Deputy NSA . 28 December 2021 . The Hindu . 27 December 2021 . en-IN.
  17. News: BSF Ex-DG Pankaj Kumar Singh appointed Deputy NSA . 21 January 2023 . Times of India . 18 January 2023 . en-IN.