National Security

Question 1

What is National Security?

Answer 1

A nation’s ability to protect:-

Nation
- Tangible (territories, assets and interests)
-Intangible (ideologies, Interests, Institutions)

Citizen
- Residents
- NRIs
- Tourists

Question 2

Tools of National Security

Answer 2

Military Power
Diplomatic Power
Economic Power
Political Power
Soft Power

Question 3

Elements of National Security

Answer 3

Military Security
- protection from external military threats (invasion, terrorism, cyber attack, border security, coaster security)

Economic Security
- ability to protect (national wealth, economic freedom of state and citizens, economic sectors)

Energy Security
- manage uninterrupted supply of energy
- security of international energy assets

Environmental Security
- climate change (internal displacement, warning war, migration)
- pollution
- transnational in nature

Ethnic Security
- avoid sectional conflicts
- maintain national integrity
- promote national harmony

Cyber Security
- protection of Digital Infrastructure
- developing cyber defence and offence capacity

Health Security
- disease surveillance and early warning system
- rapid response and emergency preparedness

Information Security
- data as a public good
- protection of information that affects national security
- protect the citizens’right to privacy (Data Protection Bill)

Resource Security
- Water Wars (Indus Water Dispute (external) , Cauvery Dispute (internal))

Political Security
- ensuring national sovereignty
- maintaining the stability of the government
- honouring human rights of the citizens

Geostrategic Security
- military cooperation
- training
- startegic autonomy of defence purchases

Food Security
- addressing nutritional poverty
- measures to avoid starvation

Disaster Security
- mitigation response
- quick response

Question 4

What is the National Security Doctrine?

Answer 4

set of principles and guidelines

that outlines a country’s approach

to safeguard its interests and protect it’s citizens

from internal and external threats

Question 5

Element of National Security Doctrine?

Answer 5

Threat Assessment
National Security Objectives
National Security Strategy
Military Strategy
Diplomatic Strategy
Intelligence Gathering and Analysis
Emergency Preparedness and Response

Question 6

Need of National Security?

Answer 6

Constitutional Mandate (union list)
Removes Ad-hocism (practical and proactive approach)
Co-ordinated Response(accountability, no confusion around responsibilities)
Consistent Policies and Approaches
Deterrence Effect
Global Threats
Global Profile
Strategic Approach

Question 7

Challenges in creating a National Security Doctrine?

Answer 7

Building Consensus among all security agencies is difficult (delineation of hierarchies and defining clear cut roles)

Political Consensus (absence of common agreement on how to treat challenges from Pak and China)

Changing Geo-political realities (before and after Galwan Valley Standup)

Question 8

Way forward for National Security Doctrine?

Answer 8

Formulate Immediately
Build Political Consensus
Transparency
Regularly Updated
Reflecting Complex Challenges