The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by the Prime Minister, handles key decisions on defence policy, national security, and related expenditures.

Need To Know

  • 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.
Cabinet Committee

  • Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional, meaning they are not mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
  • They are partly designed to reduce the burden on the Union Cabinet by allowing smaller groups of ministers to make decisions on specific policy areas.
  • They are constituted or reconstituted when a new government takes over or the Cabinet undergoes a reshuffle.
  • The membership of each committee can vary from three to eight.

 

Source: The Hindu