India's National Security Architecture
The NSA and NSC
India's foreign and security policy in crises is coordinated through the National Security Council (NSC) framework. Understanding the role of the NSA, Deputy NSA, and the Strategic Policy Group is relevant for appreciating how India assesses such crises institutionally.
- National Security Advisor (NSA): India's primary foreign/security adviser to the Prime Minister; heads the NSC Secretariat
- Deputy NSA: Assists the NSA; Pankaj Saran served as Deputy NSA (2019-2021), also a former Ambassador to Russia
- Strategic Policy Group (SPG): Senior-level inter-ministerial body under NSC that coordinates national security policy
- NSC Secretariat: Permanent support structure for intelligence and policy integration
- Pankaj Saran is also associated with the Harvard Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute
● Tracked since March 11, 2026 · last seen May 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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