Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

The Union Government has reconstituted the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and appointed former R&AW chief Alok Joshi as its new chairman along with six other members.

This restructuring comes amid rising Indo-Pak tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack signalling renewed focus on national security preparedness and foresight.

Three-Tier National Security Framework in India

Tier	Institution	Headed by	Role
Tier 1 (Apex)	National Security Council (NSC)	Prime Minister	Final decision-making body on security issues
Tier 2	Strategic Policy Group (SPG)	National Security Advisor (NSA)	Inter-ministerial coordination and strategic planning
Tier 3	National Security Advisory Board (NSAB)	Chairperson (Appointed by PMO)	Advisory body providing independent, long-term strategic inputs

About NSAB

Mandate and Purpose

Established to provide a broad-based, independent viewpoint on national security and strategic issues.

Offers non-governmental insights from experts in diplomacy, defense, economy and technology.

Helps enhance long-term strategic planning and anticipate emerging challenges e.g., cyber threats, space weaponization, terrorism, energy security.

Legal Status

Non-statutory and non-constitutional body.

Functions under the National Security Council Secretariat.

Its recommendations are advisory not binding.

Composition of NSAB

Element	Details
Chairperson	Usually a retired senior government official or strategic expert
Members	Typically 7-10, drawn from fields such as military, diplomacy, academia, science, intelligence, and internal security
Tenure	Not fixed; composition is flexible and may change based on requirements
Appointment	Members are appointed by PMO on the advice of the NSA

Functions and Responsibilities

Advisory Role to NSC: Recommends policies on national security.

Strategic Guidance: Identifies future threats and opportunities in geopolitics.

Foresight and Scenario-Building: Develops long-term scenarios in defense, foreign policy, energy, etc.

Support for Strategic Communication: Assists in managing India's global narrative.

Bridging Expertise Gap: Infuses non-bureaucratic and non-political perspectives into policymaking.

Newly Reconstituted NSAB (2024–25)

Name	Background
Alok Joshi (Chairman)	Former R&AW Chief
Air Marshal P.M. Sinha	Former Western Air Commander
Lt. Gen. A.K. Singh	Former Southern Army Commander
Rear Admiral Monty Khanna	Veteran Naval Strategist
Rajiv Ranjan Verma	Retired IPS Officer
Manmohan Singh	Retired IPS Officer
B. Venkatesh Varma	Retired IFS Officer, former envoy to Russia

Current Focus Areas of NSAB

Neighbourhood Strategy especially Pakistan and China

Border Management and Fencing

Internal Security, including terrorism and insurgency

Maritime Security and Indo-Pacific policy

Strategic Industries & Emerging Technologies (AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity)

Space & Cyber Threats

Strategic Communication (information warfare, perception management)

Sources: NEWINDIANEXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. In the context of evolving national and global security threats, critically examine the role of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). How does the recent restructuring reflect India’s strategic priorities and challenges? 250 Words.