NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISOR - POLITY
News: Centre reappoints Ajit Doval
as National Security Advisor
What's in the news?
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The Centre reappointed former IPS officer Ajit
Doval as the National Security Adviser (NSA), according to an official order.
Key takeaways:
●
His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or until
further orders, the order said.
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The Centre also reappointed P.K. Mishra as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. His
appointment too will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or
until further orders, said a government order.
National Security
Advisor:
●
The National Security Advisor is the senior official on the National Security
Council of India, and the chief adviser to the Prime Minister of India on
national security policy and international affairs.
Status:
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Ajit Doval is the current NSA, and has the same rank as a Union Cabinet Minister.
●
The post has high vested powers, so the NSA is a
highly prominent and powerful office in the Government of India.
Important Takeaways:
●
All NSAs appointed since the inception of the post
in 1998 belong to either the Indian Foreign Service or to the Indian Police
Service, and serve at the discretion of the Prime Minister of India.
Role:
●
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.
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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.
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The NSA receives
all intelligence (RAW, IB, NTRO, MI, DIA, NIA) reports and co-ordinates
them to present before the Prime Minister.
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NSA is assisted by the Deputy National Security
Advisors (Deputy NSAs).
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The policy group is the main mechanism for
inter-ministerial coordination and integration of inputs in forming national
security policies.
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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.