What happened?
The government has reconstituted the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), appointing former R&AW chief Alok Joshi as its new chairman. The revamped seven-member board now includes senior retired officials from the military, police, and diplomatic services. New members include Air Marshal PM Sinha, Lt Gen AK Singh, Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, IPS officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, and former IFS officer B Venkatesh Varma. The NSAB advises the National Security Council on long-term strategic and security issues.
Why it matters to India
The reconstitution of the NSAB reflects the government’s intent to strengthen institutional expertise on national security amid rising regional threats, including cross-border terrorism. With seasoned veterans across defence, policing, and diplomacy, the board is poised to offer deeper, multi-domain insights to the National Security Council. This move comes days after the Pahalgam terror attack, signalling Delhi’s broader recalibration of strategic preparedness and high-level security advisory infrastructure.