United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific's (UNESCAP) :: "EMPOWER IAS"

Context: 

• The Budget allocation for the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) increased 10 times from ₹33.17 crores in 2016-17 to ₹333.58 crores in 2017-18.

 

More in the news:

• In 2016-17, NSA’s (National Security Advisor) budget was Rs 33.17 crores.
• Next year the budget increased 10x to 333 crores because 300 Crores was added under the new head 'cybersecurity R&D'.
• The National Security Advisor whose Budget comes under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
• According to the Expenditure Budget statements for the relevant years, the allocation for the NSCS first shot up 10-fold in 2017-18, but actual spending was less than double the previous year.
• However, in the following financial year, before the May 2019 general election, the spending by the NSCS shot up by over 13 times from the 2017-18 levels, to well over ₹800 crores.

 

Key Points

• About:
  • NSC of India is a three-tiered organization that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.
  • The National Security Advisor (NSA) presides over the NSC, and is also the primary advisor to the prime minister. The current National Security Advisor is Ajit Doval.
• Formation:
  • It was formed in 1999, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon.
• Three tier Structure:
  • NSC comprises the three tier structure- Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat.
     
    • The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of the relevant inputs.
    • The NSAB undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives on issues of national security.
• Function:
  • It operates within the executive office of the prime minister of India, liaising between the government’s executive branch and the intelligence services, advising leadership on intelligence and security issues.
• Members:
  • The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are its members.