National Security Advisor

Why in news?

• India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval made a previously unannounced visit to Afghanistan for talks on strategic issues.

About National Security Advisor:

• The National Security Advisor is the senior official on the National Security Council of India.
• The post was created on 19 November 1998 by the Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• He/ She is also the chief adviser to the Prime Minister of India on national security policy and international affairs.
• Ajit Doval is the current NSA, and has the same rank as a Union Cabinet Minister.
• The NSA receives all intelligence (RAW, IB, NTRO, MI, DIA, NIA) reports and co-ordinates them to present before the Prime Minister.
• The NSA serves at the discretion of the Prime Minister of India.

About National Security Council

• NSC is an executive government agency tasked with advising the Prime Minister's Office on matters of national security and strategic interest.
• The three tier structure of the NSC comprises the Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat.
• All aspects of national security are deliberated upon by the National Security Council (NSC), the apex body.
• The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Finance and Deputy Chairman of the NITI Aayog are its members.
• The National Security Adviser is its Secretary.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements about ‘National Security Advisor’: 
1.He/ She is the chief adviser to the Prime Minister of India on defence matters.
2.The post of NSA was created in 1971 after the Indo Pak war.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

 Answer to Prelims Question