1
Towards effective Internal Security
Internal SecurityInternal Security
Internal SecurityInternal Security
Internal Security
POLICPOLIC
POLICPOLIC
POLIC
Y BRIEFY BRIEF
Y BRIEFY BRIEF
Y BRIEF
INTRODUCTION:
NEED FOR A COMPACT
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
The concept of national security has
progressively been widened in recent years.
India faces a number of conventional and
non-conventional national security challenges.
There are several internal security threats
which have external linkages. Traditionally,
internal security threats have been categorised
under the headings of Left-wing extremism,
North East, Jammu & Kashmir,
communalism and organized crime.
Dealing with these threats requires a
comprehensive national security strategy. The
Kargil Review Committee had made several
important recommendations towards
reforming the government’s national security
structures. The government of the day had
set up several task forces to look into different
aspects of national security. The
recommendations of the task forces were
integrated by a Group of Ministers into a
comprehensive document titled “Reforming
the National Security Structures”. The
document contains over 300
recommendations many of which have been
implemented. This is to date the most
comprehensive document on national security
made public by the government. Eight years
have passed since the GOM report was
published. In these eight years, the security
scenario has changed considerably with new,
more complex and virulent threats emerging.
The government may consider setting up
another GOM to examine the national
security structures to consider steps that need
to be taken to meet the emerging and future
threats more effectively.
It would be helpful if the government can
articulate an integrated and coherent national
security strategy, synthesising all elements of
national power. Such a comprehensive
national security strategy
should outline the
various dimensions of
national security, the
assessment of the
government with regard
to the prevailing national
security environment
and the steps needed to
deal with these threats.
INTELLIGENCE
Intelligence is a key component of
security. The Kargil Review Committee
had pointed out the various lacunae in
the intelligence apparatus of the country.
The Mumbai terror attacks of November
26, 2008 (popularly being referred to as
26/11 attacks) brought out the fact that
intelligence was available, but its analysis,
dissemination and action on intelligence
were missing. Coordination amongst
intelligence and law enforcement agencies
remains the weakest point
in the Indian system.
The government has set up
a Multi Agency Centre
(MAC) which seeks to unify
and analyse the intelligence
coming from different
sources and channels. This
is an important step which
needs to be replicated at
State level. A network of
MAC and State Multi
Agency Centres (SMAC)
need to be created. Equally
important is the timing,
June 2009
The government may consider setting up
another GOM to examine the national
security structures to consider steps that need
to be taken to meet the emerging and future
threats more effectively.