Government Sets Up Panel Under NSA Ajit Doval To Formulate Security Strategy, Supervise Defence Deals 

The government has set up a new panel for planning on defence matters, called the Defence Planning Committee (DPC), under the chairmanship of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, The Indian Express has reported.

The panel, which will be a permanent body, will prepare a draft national security strategy and undertake a strategic defence review.

The body will have the Chairman Chiefs of the Staff Committee, service chiefs, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Secretary (expenditure) in the Finance Ministry as its members. By bringing together officials from the Foreign, Defence External Affairs Ministries, the panel will facilitate integrated planning on higher defence matters by overcoming the problems of coordination.

The panel will take a longer view of India’s current and future military requirements, obtain approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security for capability development plan and provide guidance for budgetary support.

It will have four sub-committees: on Policy and Strategy, Plans and Capability Development, Defence Diplomacy, and Defence Manufacturing.