National Security Advisor (NSA)

In 1998, the post of National Security Advisor (NSA) was created. However, the NSA office is not backed by any legislative provisions nor has parliamentary accountability. So, there is a lot of power being exercised by this office without any responsibility.

• The National Security Adviser (NSA) is the chief executive of the National Security Council (NSC), and the primary adviser to the Prime Minister of India on national and international security.
• Due to such vested powers, NSA is a prominent and powerful office in the bureaucracy.
• All the NSAs appointed since the inception of the post belong to the Indian Foreign Service except M K Narayanan and the incumbent, Ajit Doval, who belong to the Indian Police Service.
• The National Security Adviser (NSA) is tasked with regularly advising the Prime Minister on all matters relating to internal and external threats to the country, and oversees strategic issues.
• The NSA of India also serves as the Prime Minister’s Special Interlocutor on border issues with China, and frequently accompanies the Prime Minister on Foreign State visits.
• Brajesh Mishra was appointed the first National Security Adviser of India. The post was created on 19 November 1998 by the Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.