Why is it in the news?

• India has recently initiated the process of creating a National Security Strategy with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) collating inputs from various Central ministries and departments for the strategy’s draft.
• This is India’s first attempt at formalizing such a strategy. Though, discussed multiple times in military circles but never formalized.

National Security Strategy

• Outlines the country’s security objectives and methods to achieve them.
• Provides a holistic view of national security, threats, and ways to address them.
• Updated periodically and defines both traditional and non-traditional threats.
• Will include challenges like financial security, food and energy security, information warfare, and vulnerabilities in India’s infrastructure.

Issues in India’s National Security

• Inconsistent security responses, for instance, calling National Security Guard (NSG) in Pathankot even when local army personnel, familiar with the terrain, were present.
• In the Mumbai attacks, despite the NSG being in the city, there was a delay in action.
• Ignored or unacted upon intelligence inputs.
• High casualties due to lack of coordination among security agencies.
• Absence of accountability post agency failures.

Need for India

• Given rising geopolitical tensions and a mix of traditional and non-traditional threats, there’s an increased urgency.
• Major military reforms should ideally be based on a national security strategy. Without a clear strategy, reforms might be misguided or inefficient.
• Ensure prompt, relevant, and consistent security responses during insurgencies.
• Responses would be based on the national security strategy outlined in the doctrine.
• Foster better coordination among security agencies at both central and federal levels.
• This could prevent attacks, especially when there are prior intelligence inputs.
• Increase accountability within the security establishment.
• Ensure swift and effective handling of threats for the country’s peace, progress, and development.
• Former Army Chief General NC Vij mentioned outdated political direction to the Armed Forces.
• Former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon emphasized the need for a national security strategy.
• Last year, former Army chief General MM Naravane stressed its importance before further theaterization.

Reasons for Absence in the Past

• Hesitation at the political level.
• Government possibly not wanting to publicly disclose its national security objectives.
• Lack of a cohesive, whole-of-government effort.
• Potential accountability in defence management.

Countries with National Security Strategy

• Developed nations like the US, UK, and Russia have their own national security strategies.
• China’s strategy is named the Comprehensive National Security and is tied to its governance.
• Pakistan has a National Security Policy for 2022-2026.