About Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS):
- The CCS, headed by the Prime Minister, is responsible for important discussions and decisions on defence policy, expenditure, and matters related to national security.
- It is also the apex body when it comes to the appointments of the officials in the national security bodies.
- History:
- A committee comparable to the current CCS structure was first formed in independent India in 1947 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Formed 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.
- The first emergency meeting of this committee was reportedly called during the Indo-Pak War of 1947–48.
- It was reportedly chaired by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with Home Minister Sardar Patel and Defence Minister Baldev Singh as its members.
- It was after the 1999 Kargil War that the committee evolved to adopt the present formal structure of the CCS and became a high-powered committee for defence and national security.
- Over time, the CCS has evolved into the apex decision-making body concerning internal and external security matters of the Government of India.
- Composition:
- With the Prime Minister as its chairperson, the committee typically comprises the Home Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and External Affairs Minister as members.
- The National Security Advisor (NSA) acts as secretary-level coordinator on matters within its purview.
- While the defence minister is a permanent invitee to the panel, other members may be included as per requirements.
- The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for maintaining records of all the meetings and proceedings of the CCS.
- The CCS concerns itself with all matters related to defence, foreign affairs, intelligence, nuclear issues, space policy, and major appointments related to national security.
