India’s National Security Challenges

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The Constitution of India provides that it shall be the duty of the Union to protect the states against internal disturbance and external aggression, and the states shall be responsible for maintaining police forces and securing public order. A large country, with nearly 23,000 km. of land and sea borders, India faces a host of internal, external and varied other serious security challenges. The contributors to this volume, almost all of whom are respected veterans of our three Defence Services have, on the basis of their long experiences, highlighted their concerns and pointed to the way forward.

A crucial issue emerges from the writings in this book: there is an urgent need for the enunciation of a holistic National Security Policy which will provide the doctrinal basis for determining the nature, scale, and management architecture of the civil and military armed forces, intelligence services, and the growing number of agencies which are engaged in strengthening and safeguarding India's security. Besides, this book delineates the Centre-State arrangements for the management of pan- India security. This volume should be of interest to all those who have interest in the safeguarding of our national security.

N.N. Vohra, Life Trustee (and past President) of the India International Centre, Delhi, is a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, During his service in the IAS (1959-94) he held various important positions in the Government of India, including as Defence and Home Secretary and after retirement, as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

He has long years of experience in the security management arena. After the India-China conflict, he joined the Special Services Bureau, received training with the SAS of UK, and served in the Western Himalaya theatre. Later, he served as Home Secretary Punjab during the turbulent period after Operation Blue Star. He also served as Governor of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir during 2008-18. Author of Safeguarding India (2016), he has edited over a dozen books on varied themes.

One of the objectives of the India International Centre, New Delhi (IIC) is to foster meaningful debates on the existing and arising challenges confronting us and the world. Among the many problems facing India, the IIC has been organising a continuing series of talks and discussions on various aspects of national security.

In early 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was once again rearing its head, it was not possible to organize programmes involving the physical presence of participants. It was, therefore, decided to hold a series of on-line discussions, popularly referred to as 'webinars', on issues concerning national security.

Deviating from the earlier pattern of largely inviting academics and strategic analysts to speak on homeland and external security related problems, we decided that this time around we would listen to the views of former practitioners, retired veterans of the three Defence Services and, besides, of a few commentators. For the benefit of all those who have serious interest in national security affairs, we also decided to bring out a volume containing the views expressed in the debates organised at the IIC.

Any discussion on safeguarding the country's security involves reflection on a host of issues.