National Security Advisor (India) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Security Advisor of India |
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 Ajit Doval, KC since 30 May 2014 |
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| National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) | |
| Abbreviation | NSA |
| Member of |
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| Seat | Secretariat Building, New Delhi, India |
| Appointer | Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) |
| Term length | No fixed tenure is imposed on the office but term can be extended. |
| Inaugural holder | Brajesh Mishra, IFS |
| Formation | November 1999 |
| Deputy |
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| Salary | ₹162,500 (US$2,800) (monthly) |
The National Security Advisor (NSA) is a very important official in India. They are the main advisor to the Prime Minister of India on matters of national security. This means they help the Prime Minister make decisions about keeping the country safe. They also advise on how India deals with other countries.
In 2019, the current NSA, Ajit Doval, had his term extended for another five years. He holds a high rank, similar to a Union Cabinet Minister.
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What is the National Security Advisor?
The National Security Advisor (NSA) is a powerful position in the Government of India. The person holding this job works directly for the Prime Minister. Their main role is to keep the Prime Minister informed about any dangers or opportunities for India's safety. This includes threats from inside the country and from other nations.
The NSA also handles important and sensitive issues for the Prime Minister. For example, the NSA acts as a special messenger for the Prime Minister when talking to countries like China, Pakistan, and Israel about security matters.
How the NSA Works
The NSA gets all the important information from India's intelligence agencies. These agencies collect secret information to protect the country. The NSA then brings all this information together and presents it to the Prime Minister.
The NSA is helped by other officials called Deputy National Security Advisors. These deputies assist the NSA in their daily tasks. There is also a special group called the policy group. This group helps different government departments work together to create national security plans. Members of this group include top officials like the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, military chiefs, and secretaries from various ministries.
History of the NSA Role
The job of National Security Advisor was created on 19 November 1998. Brajesh Mishra was the first person to hold this important position. He was appointed by the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In 2004, when a new government came to power, they changed the NSA's role a bit. They split the job into two parts: one for foreign affairs and one for internal security. However, after a short time, the role was combined again into one full-time position.
Since then, several experienced officials have served as NSA. These officials usually come from either the Indian Foreign Service (who deal with foreign countries) or the Indian Police Service (who deal with law and order). The Prime Minister chooses who will be the NSA.
In 2014, Ajit Doval became the National Security Advisor. He had previously been the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. In June 2019, his role was made even more important when he was given the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
List of National Security Advisors
Here is a list of the people who have served as India's National Security Advisor:
| No | Name | Portrait | Term of office | Background | Prime Minister | Additional NSA | Deputy NSA(s) | ||
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| 1 | Brajesh Mishra, IFS |  |
19 November 1998 | 22 May 2004 | 5 years, 185 days | Permanent Representative to UN Principal Secretary | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | (Post created)
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| 2 | J. N. Dixit, IFS |  |
23 May 2004 | 3 January 2005 | 225 days | Foreign Secretary | Manmohan Singh |
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| 3 | M. K. Narayanan, IPS |  |
3 January 2005 | 23 January 2010 | 5 years, 20 days | Director, Intelligence Bureau |
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| 4 | Shivshankar Menon, IFS | .jpg) |
24 January 2010 | 26 May 2014 | 4 years, 143 days | Foreign Secretary |
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| 5 | Ajit Doval, IPS |  |
30 May 2014 | Incumbent
(Period Co-terminus with term of Prime Minister) |
11 years, 25 days | Director, Intelligence Bureau | Narendra Modi | Rajinder Khanna (2 July 2024 – Incumbent) |
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See also
- National Security Council
