Updated periodically, it defines traditional, non-traditional threats and opportunities while introducing accountability of agencies tasked with the implementation of such responsibilities.

a national security strategy would guide the military as well as critical defence and security reforms with strategic implications, providing a holistic view of the overall national security, the threats and the roadmap to address them.

include the entire range of newer challenges and modern threats facing India, including non-traditional ones such as financial and economic security, food and energy security, information warfare, vulnerabilities in India’s critical information infrastructure, as well as those associated with supply chains and environment.

Most developed countries with an advanced military and security infrastructure have a National Security Strategy in place, updated from time to time. The US, the UK and Russia have published national security strategies.

China also has such a strategy in place, called the Comprehensive National Security, which is closely tied to its governance structure. Pakistan, too, has brought out a National Security Policy 2022-2026, underlining its national security objectives and priority areas.

The location may be static in the short-term (e.g., the location of a road, an earthquake event, children living in poverty), or dynamic (e.g., a moving vehicle or pedestrian, the spread of an infectious disease)

Attribute information (the characteristics of the object, event, or phenomena concerned) and

Temporal information (the time or life span at which the location and attributes exist).

Photogrammetry (technique that uses photographs for
surveying and mapmaking) using manned/unmanned aerial vehicles, terrestrial vehicle-mounted Mobile Mapping systems

Computer aided
design images of buildings etc

Descriptive information about a
location such as points, lines, and polygons.

A collection of
co-located charted points that can be represented as 3D models.

High-resolution images of our
world, taken from above.

Strengthening Border Security and Coastal Surveillance System

Establishment of dedicated institutions like- Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, National Center of Geo-Informatics (NCG) etc.

National Spatial Data Infrastructure, Bharatmaps platform and Bhuvan portal.

India’s indigenous navigation system “NavIC” (Navigation with Indian Constellation) designed to provide accurate

position information service to users in the region extending up to 1500 km from India’s boundary.

Policy Framework to regulate Geographic Information: National map policy, Remote sensing Data Policy, National Dara

sharing and Accessibility Policy and the recent Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geospatial Data and

Geospatial data gathering as a part of schemes in initiatives like PM Gati shakti and SVAMITVA

Building a constellation of Earth Observation Satellites.

Research outputs are usually stand-alone and lack unanimity.

Shortage of trained human resources in government agencies.

Financial constraints in technological adoption and advancement in emerging and experimental fields like geospatial analytics.

Ensuring secure storage of geospatial data, given India’s vulnerable digital ecosystem.

Coordination issues due to lack of clarity on data sharing and collaboration with lower levels of governance.

Lack of Indigenous software and hardware technology.

Privacy concerns: Lack of locational privacy and confidentiality in India.

Difficulties in processing sheer volume of geospatial data.

• Non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states

In the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or
chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons

India must ensure that deterrence does not fail, and that there is a clear communication
to the adversary of the certainty of punitive nuclear retaliation

An unarmed Indian missile was accidentally fired into Pakistan. Expressing deep regret, India’s
government ascribed it to a technical malfunction during routine maintenance

India’s stated
stance of ‘no first use’ has proven itself valuable, as seen in Pakistan’s response

Since there is no first use alert requirement, the chances of reacting to a false alarm are nullified

The conventional criticism against a ‘no first use’ policy is that India would have to suffer a first strike before it retaliated.

• Critics of the NFU policy argue that the increasing stockpile of Pakistani nuclear weapons and China’s expansionist designs in the region warrant a change in the doctrine.

• A major worry for India is a two-front war when both China and Pakistan collude and simultaneously launch offensives. In case India faces severe adversity, its traditional nuclear doctrine of NFU may not be ideal.

As India inches to achieve its rightful strategic autonomy, it needs to do much more in planting
the seeds for a commercially viable and technologically robust indigenous defence industrial base.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2019, India became
the third-largest defence spender in the world.

• To boost indigenization, DRDO needs to be given more autonomy like space and atomic energy departments

• With opening up of 100% FDI in defence sector, giving private players an opportunity

would bring in the money as well as competition to the Defence PSUs.

• Setting up of the planned defence industrial corridors.

• Robust Defence Diplomacy, for which a cadre of defence diplomats should be created so that new co-ordination with world can bring new idea and innovations.

• Setting up of a Defence Export Organization to promote export of defence equipments.

• Instituting an Independent Audit addressing issues of inefficiency and accountability, this

shall help in keeping the flow of ideas and innovation.

• Setting up an aerospace university, can help in bringing new ideas and innovations.

External Threats

Global Instability

Multi-alignment Strategy

Economic Strength

Multi-Alignment Foreign Policy

Confidentiality

Strategic Resource Allocation

Defense and Economy Integration

United States: The U.S. defines national security as a union of values and national interests. The National Security Strategy (NSS) mentions “values” 29 times, emphasizing America’s leadership role. It influences other documents like the National Defense Strategy and budgeting.

United Kingdom: The U.K.’s 2021 Integrated Review focuses on global partnerships and maintaining its status as a European power, despite its limited military resources, such as insufficient aircraft for its carriers.

France: In 2022, France’s NSS focused on nuclear deterrence due to the Ukraine war, aiming to assert European leadership, though it faced limited success.

Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence: Pakistan now frequently highlights its “full spectrum deterrence” strategy, which includes the possibility of first-use nuclear strikes.

China’s Nuclear Expansion: China is undergoing a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal, increasing its capabilities.

Technological Advances: Adversaries are improving technologies like highly accurate conventional delivery systems, cyber-attacks on nuclear command structures, AI to counter retaliatory capabilities, and advanced intelligence surveillance.

Increased Collaboration Threat: There is concern about potential collaboration between Pakistan and China against India, intensifying the nuclear threat.

Stable Deterrence: India’s nuclear doctrine, established 25 years ago, focuses on credible minimum deterrence and a no-first-use policy. Despite changes in the global nuclear landscape, these principles continue to provide stability.

Adaptability to Threats: While Pakistan’s first-use policy and China’s nuclear expansion are significant, India’s doctrine allows for a flexible and responsive nuclear force. This adaptability ensures continued deterrence without an arms race.

Technological Considerations: Advances like cyber threats and AI necessitate improved survivability of India’s nuclear forces. However, these changes do not require altering the doctrine itself.

Global Contrast: India’s restrained approach stands out against the aggressive nuclear policies of others, reinforcing its doctrine’s relevance as a beacon of nuclear stability in today’s world.

Enhance Survivability: Focus on strengthening the survivability of nuclear forces against advanced threats like cyber-attacks, AI, and improved ISR by adversaries.

Measured Arsenal Growth: Continue the steady, measured growth of India’s nuclear arsenal, aligning with the doctrine’s call for an “effective, enduring, diverse, flexible and responsive” force.

Maintain No-First-Use Policy: Retain the no-first-use policy, as it avoids the costly and complex demands of a first-use strategy.

Avoid Tactical nuclear weapons: Refrain from deploying tactical nuclear weapons, as their use could lead to unpredictable and destabilizing consequences.

New Appointments and Structure: The National Security Council now includes an Additional National Security Advisor (ANSA) along with three deputy NSAs, expanding the leadership structure.

Change in NSA’s Role: The role of the National Security Advisor (NSA) has shifted to be more advisory rather than operational. The NSA now focuses on working with advisory bodies like the National Security Advisory Board and the Strategic Policy Group.

Reporting Relationships Altered: The NSA, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other key military and civil leaders are required to report both to the NSA and their respective ministers, complicating the chain of command and potentially leading to bureaucratic delays.

Introduction of Additional Bureaucratic Layer: The ANSA now acts as a gatekeeper in communications between six mid-level unit heads (three deputy NSAs and three service officers) and the NSA, adding a new layer of bureaucracy.

Uncertainty in Role Definitions: The lack of clear definitions for the roles and responsibilities of the NSA and other security officials could lead to inefficiencies in managing national security.

Potential for Turf Wars: The restructuring might cause conflicts between different government departments, as seen in potential meetings convened by the NSA with the Cabinet Secretary and other top bureaucrats, potentially upsetting established hierarchies.

Speculation on Leadership Succession: The restructuring has prompted speculation about the future of the current NSA, Ajit Doval, and whether the new ANSA, Rajinder Khanna, will replace him. This uncertainty could impact strategic continuity and stability.

Influence on Security Briefings: With the new bureaucratic layer introduced by the ANSA acting as a gatekeeper in communication, there’s uncertainty about whether the NSA or ANSA will handle the PM’s daily security briefings, which affects the direct flow of information to the Prime Minister.

Hierarchical Discrepancies: Elevating the NSA to a cabinet rank while assigning the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) the rank of a secretary reduces the CDS’s influence in key security discussions, especially since the CDS is not a permanent member of the cabinet committee on security.

Impact on Defence Strategy: By not having the CDS report directly to the Prime Minister, there may be delays and inefficiencies in addressing urgent defense modernization needs and strategic planning in response to regional security challenges.