Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)

Noting the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) announced a series of extraordinary retaliatory measures against Pakistan.

About Cabinet Committee on Security

The CCS,headed by the PM,isresponsible for important discussions and decisions on defence policy, expenditure,and matters related tonational security.

It is also theapex bodywhen it comes to theappointments of the officials inthenational security bodies.

History:

oA committee comparableto the current CCS structure was firstformed inindependent India in1947 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

oFormed against the background of a newly independent nation facing national security challenges, the committee was constituted with the primary aim of assessing and addressing the political, economic, and military situations in India's border areas.

oThefirst emergency meetingof this committee was reportedly calledduring the Indo-Pak War of 1947–48

oIt was reportedlychaired by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,withHome Minister Sardar Patel and Defence Minister Baldev Singhas its members.

oIt wasafter the 1999 Kargil Warthat the committeeevolved to adopt the present formal structureof the CCS and became a high-powered committee for defence and national security.

oOver time, the CCShasevolved into the apex decision-making bodyconcerning internal and external security matters of the Government of India.

Composition:

oWith thePrime Minister as its chairperson, the committee typically comprises theHome Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister,andExternal Affairs Ministeras members

oTheNational Security Advisor(NSA) acts assecretary-level coordinatoron matters within its purview.

oWhile the defence minister is a permanent invitee to the panel, other members may be included as per requirements

oTheCabinet Secretariatis responsible formaintaining records of all the meetingsand proceedings of the CCS.

oThe CCS concerns itself with all matters related to defence, foreign affairs, intelligence, nuclear issues, space policy, and major appointments related to national security.