My report on Revamping India’s National Security Structure | An Agenda for the Indian Government, from the International Strategic and Security Studies Programme, NIAS, Bangalore, June 2014.
http://isssp.in/revamping-indias-national-security-structure-agenda-for-the-indian-government/
To read the complete report in pdf click here
The
2014 elections for the Sixteenth Lok Sabha saw the Indian electorate
delivering a positive, decisive mandate to a single party after a gap of
almost three decades. An important area which is in need for urgent
attention from the Narendra Modi-government is India’s national security
structure. Despite past efforts at reform, India’s national security
structure continues to be plagued by absence of coordination, turf
battles and paucity of human resources. Many of these problems are
symptomatic of systemic ills which therefore require a holistic relook.
In order
for India to achieve its national interests it should be able to work in
a coordinated fashion. This necessitates a holistic revamping of the
existing national security apparatus and its workings. Putting in place a
mechanism that develops long-term strategies and coordinates their
execution is imperative as is and strengthening the National Security
Advisor’s (NSA’s) support structure. In addition, such a revamp should
also include reforms to the existing higher defence organisation and
intelligence setup. This report will flag some of the important issues
the incoming government needs to focus on in order to strengthen India’s
national security architecture.
Need for a National Strategy
A
national strategy is important for planning India’s economic trajectory,
shaping the country’s foreign relations, planning its defence
modernisation, improving its science and technology capabilities,
resource planning, internal security and other such critical areas. Such
a strategy would chalk out Indian priorities as a function of India’s
aspirations, security challenges and available resources.
Strategic Think-Tank and Coordinating Mechanism
The
National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) could be tasked with
drawing up holistic medium to long-term strategies in various areas. The
NSCS could also act as a coordinating mechanism which implements these
strategies by bringing together various departments and ministries of
the government.
Strengthen the NSA’s Support Structure
The
National Security Advisor (NSA) is the fulcrum around which the NSC
system operates. The NSA’s role has expanded over time. Thus it is
important to expand the NSA’s core support structure. Also, for the NSA
and the NSC system to be able to function effectively it must be able to
draw upon and assimilate knowledge from multiple sources into a cogent
national strategy.
Reforming the Higher Defence Organisation
A decision
on the position of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is long overdue.
The Chief of Defence Staff – regardless of what we choose to call the
office – will foster inter-Service coordination in planning, execution
of operations and in the force planning process. The system will ensure
faster decision making during crises and provide a platform for
inter-Service dispute resolution. Implementation of the system must
address the drawbacks of the current system and evolve a purely ‘Indian’
solution keeping in mind the Indian situation and requirements.
Where to Begin?
The 2001
GoM Report on “Reforming the National Security System in pursuance of
Kargil Review Committee Report” had recommended a comprehensive review
of India’s national security mechanisms every five years. The exercise
of revamping the existing National Security structure could be initiated
with such a review.
I presented a paper on te Evolution of Missile Technologies in India along with Prof Rajaram Nagappa at the Center for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. This was part of an authors’ conference for an Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) project titled “Nuclearisation of South Asia: Implications for India’s National Security” on March 27, 2015. 
