The Current and Future Role of India’s National Security Advisor

Under the revamp of the National Security Council Secretariat on 1 July 2024 , a new Additional National Security Advisor (ANSA) has been appointed.

• This is the first time the additional NSA position has been filled, a role that had previously been consistently vacant.
• There is also a restructuring of the reporting relationships within the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and between the National Security Advisor (NSA) and Union ministries.

National Security Advisor (NSA)

• About: The National Security Advisor 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. 
• Rank: The current NSA has been assigned the rank of a Union Cabinet Minister.
• Order of Precedence:The NSA is at the seventh position in the Indian Order of Precedence.
• National Security Council: The NSA is a member of the National Security Council (NSC) of India.

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• Secretary to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS):  The NSA acts as secretary of National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which is one of the Three-tier Structure of National Security Council (NSC).
  • National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS): NSCS is the apex agency looking into the political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns of India.
  • It has four verticals:
    • Strategic Planning;
    • Internal Affairs;
    • Intelligence and Technology;
    • Military

Role of the NSA

• Advisory 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. 
• Prime Minister’s Special Interlocutor: 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.
• Intel and Coordination: The NSA receives all intelligence reports and co-ordinates them to present before the Prime Minister. 

Revamped role of NSA

• Delegation of role to ANSA: The newly appointed Additional National Security Advisor (ANSA) will now be responsible for looking into the  internal security management and threat analysis.
  • This adjustment allows the NSA to focus directly on assisting the Prime Minister’s Office with other pressing security challenges.

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• Presides a bigger organisation: The NSA now presides over a much bigger organisation, with an ANSA and three deputy NSAs. 
• Appears more advisory and less operational: The NSA would deal with advisory outfits such as the National Security Advisory Board and the Strategic Policy Group. 
  • His new role appears more advisory and less operational. 
• Reporting Structure: 
  • The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the three service chiefs report to the NSA.
  • Union defence, home, foreign, and other secretaries also report to the NSA.
  • Despite reporting to the NSA, these officials also report to their respective ministers for daily operations.
• Potential Turf Issues: 
  • The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister typically handles civil bureaucracy.
  • Turf issues could arise if the NSA becomes more active in convening meetings with:
    • The Cabinet Secretary.
    • Secretaries to the Government of India.
• Communication Chain and Bureaucratic Layers
  • The ANSA is expected to act as a gatekeeper in the communication chain between:
    • Six mid-level unit heads (three deputy NSAs and three service officers).
    • The NSA.
  • This adds an extra bureaucratic layer between the Prime Minister and those monitoring national security daily.
• Questions Raised by Changes to the Security Architecture: Numerous questions have emerged within both civil and military bureaucracies regarding the changes
  • Speculation about the future of the current NSA
  • Will the newly appointed ANSA succeed the current NSA? Etc.

Assessing the Role of India’s NSA

• Necessity: The question of whether India requires an NSA remains unresolved.
• Lack of Clarity in Criteria and Qualifications for NSA: There are no clearly defined criteria or qualifications for the post of NSA. The absence of specified duties and chain of command further complicates the issue. 
  • This ambiguity raises questions about the ideal background for an NSA- whether diplomatic, bureaucratic, military, police, or intelligence.

Suggestions 

• Separate Planners from Leaders:  There is a  suggestion to separate strategic planners from operational leaders.
• Recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee chaired by K Subrahmanyam:  
  • The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) should report directly to the Prime Minister.
  • Given the security challenges and regional dynamics, it is essential for the CDS to directly report to the Prime Minister while maintaining a consultative relationship with the NSA.

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Conclusion

Recent controversies, including allegations against R&AW highlighted by state agencies in Canada and the United States and debates over the Agniveer initiative have refocused attention on the NSA’s role and responsibilities.