Latest news with #RelevantandResurgent:ABlueprintfortheTransformationofIndia'sMilitary
The Print
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
What's a National Security Strategy & why CDS Gen Chauhan feels India doesn't need one on paper
In his newly published book, 'Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India's Military', Gen. Chauhan writes that the absence of a document should not be mistaken for the absence of a strategy. The NSS is a comprehensive document that articulates a country's long-term vision, strategic objectives, threat perceptions and policy direction across all dimensions of national security, including military, internal, economic, cyber, energy and diplomatic domains. New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has dismissed calls for a written National Security Strategy (NSS), asserting that India already has the requisite structures in place to secure itself. 'Strategic analysts and political pundits often state that India does not have a NSS. That is incorrect and a myopic understanding of the issue. What we don't have is a written document called NSS, which is published periodically by Western nations,' the CDS states in the book, which was released Thursday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. Citing examples, he writes that Israel, 'the most threatened nation on earth', has never released a formal NSS, while Pakistan issued a National Security Policy in 2022 but continues to face economic crisis, political instability and civil-military discord. 'Pakistan had the written document but lacked organisational structures, processes and policies to secure itself,' he adds. Gen. Chauhan contends that the strategic coherence behind the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories illustrates the presence of an existing national security framework. 'Such decisions would not have been possible without the elements, 'Policy, Processes and Organisational Structures' that constitute the National Security Strategy (NSS),' he writes. This is not the first time the CDS has questioned the utility of a written NSS. Last year as well, at a book launch in May, he had made similar remarks, stating that an NSS comprised 'policy, processes and practices', all of which India already had. 'The only thing missing is a written policy. I don't know why people insist on that,' he had said. The CDS had also argued that the absence of a written NSS had not prevented India from successfully executing strategic actions like the Balakot and Uri strikes, or the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. But just a few months later, in November, Gen. Chauhan appeared to reverse course. At an event titled 'Future Wars and the Indian Armed Forces' in New Delhi, he said a 'written (national security) document' was indeed being prepared. Also Read: India, Pakistan DGMOs agree to extend measures aimed at reducing border tensions Where does India stand While countries such as the US, China, and Russia routinely publish such documents, either in full or abridged form, India has never officially released one, despite recurring demands and several attempts. In 2021, former CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat had flagged the absence of a clearly articulated NSS as a significant shortcoming. Additionally, former Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane echoed this in 2022, warning that creating theatre commands without an overarching national security strategy would be ill-advised. The conversation around an NSS first gained traction in the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil War, when the Kargil Review Committee led by K. Subrahmanyam called for major structural reforms to India's national security architecture. This led to the establishment of the National Security Council (NSC), Strategic Policy Group (SPG), National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). In 2007, a draft NSS was prepared by the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and submitted to the National Security Adviser and the Prime Minister's Office. However, it did not receive approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and was never adopted. The government set up the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) under NSA Ajit Doval in 2018, comprising the three service chiefs, the defence secretary, the foreign secretary and the chief of the IDS. One of its core objectives was to formulate an NSS. Though the committee began consultations, no final document emerged. In 2019, former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen. D.S. Hooda (retd.) had submitted 'a comprehensive and exhaustive' strategy document on national security—informally known as the 'Hooda Document'—to Rahul Gandhi after the Congress party had roped in for a task force to prepare a vision paper for the country. More recently, in 2023 and 2024, the NSCS initiated inter-ministerial consultations to frame a comprehensive strategy. However, no public update or timeline has since been announced. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Rajnath calls for global supervision of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. 'Insecurity,' says Islamabad
India Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
General Anil Chauhan authors book on India's military, Rajnath Singh at launch
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday was present at the launch of "Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India's Military", a book authored by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan. The book talks about the ongoing transformation of India's armed forces, focusing on jointness, integration, and self-reliance to address the challenges of 21st-century warfare and uphold national book, a collection of articles by General Chauhan, lays out a vision to build a future-ready military aligned with the national goal of a "Sashakt, Surakshit, Samridh aur Viksit Bharat" by 2047. It highlights long-term reforms to foster interoperability amongst the services, optimise military resources, and modernise the forces to counter emerging threats."This book is just the beginning of nuanced thoughts," said CDS Anil Chauhan, expressing hope that the ideas within would stimulate further discourse on military transformation. The roots of this reform date back to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the 2014 Combined Commanders' Conference, where he outlined the need for a modern, joint force capable of securing India's interests across both traditional and emerging domains. Acting on this vision, the government in 2020 established the Department of Military Affairs and appointed the first CDS to enhance synergy between the three Chauhan, who attended his first Combined Commanders' Conference as CDS in March 2023, drew inspiration from the event's theme - "Ready, Relevant, Resurgent" - for the title of the book. He said the terms encapsulate the direction India's military must take to remain effective in an increasingly complex global security shifting geopolitical dynamics and the unpredictable nature of future conflicts, CDS Chauhan stressed the importance of developing India-specific solutions rooted in the country's strategic culture. Highlighting this, the book includes a piece on "Ancient Indian Wisdom and its Relevance in Modern Strategy and Statecraft", underlining how India's heritage continues to inform its global outlook and military Watch
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India does not need a written National Security Strategy, structures are in place: CDS General Anil Chauhan
NEW DELHI: Dismissing the need for a written National Security Strategy, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan has said India has the requisite organisational structures, processes and policies in place to secure the nation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In his new book "Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India's Military", the CDS said strategic analysts and political pundits often state that India does not have a NSS. "That is incorrect and a myopic understanding of the issue. What we don't have is a written document called NSS, which is published periodically by Western nations," he said. Israel, the "most threatened nation on earth", does not have a written policy document or NSS. "On the contrary, Pakistan issued a written National Security Policy in 2022 and ran into economic problems, political instability, rift between the Armed Forces and the citizens and problems on its western borders," he added. Pakistan had the written document but lacked organisational structures, processes and policies to secure itself, the CDS said. In 2022, after retiring as Army chief, Gen M M Naravane had argued that India needed to have a NSS that lays down long-term national and geopolitical objectives in the face of myriad threats, stating it would be a folly to create theatre commands without a policy in place.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CDS dismisses case for a written National Security Strategy
NEW DELHI: Dismissing the need for a written National Security Strategy (NSS), chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan has said India has the requisite organisational structures, processes and policies in place to to secure the nation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In his new book 'Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India's Military', the CDS said strategic analysts and political pundits in India and abroad often state that India does not have a NSS. 'That is incorrect and a myopic understanding of the issue. What we don't have is a written document called NSS, which is published periodically by some Western nations,' he said. Israel, the 'most threatened nation on earth', does not have a written policy document or NSS. 'On the contrary, Pakistan issued a written National Security Policy in 2022 and soon ran into economic problems, political instability, rift between the Armed Forces and the citizens and problems on its western borders,' he said. Pakistan had the written document but lacked the organisational structures, processes and policies to secure itself, the CDS said. In 2022, soon after retiring as the Army chief, Gen M M Naravane had argued that India urgently needed to have a NSS that lays down long-term national and geopolitical objectives in the face of myriad threats, stating it would be a folly to create theatre commands without such a policy in place. 'Unless there is a NSS in place, just to keep talking of `theaterisation' is to actually put the cart before the horse,' Gen Naravane had said. A primary task before the CDS is the long-delayed creation of tri-Service unified theatre commands to ensure India gets an integrated war fighting machinery within budgetary constraints.
