National security strategy to be part of 2030 goals

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

The national security strategy, which will lay down the country’s future military policy, is to be part of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 laid down by the government. There are 17 declared goals in all. The security expenses are expected to be added as overarching parameters for meeting these goals.

This means a fund will be created or mandated by the 15th Finance Commission. The scope and ambit of the fund will depend upon what the framework of security strategy is suggested by the Defence Planning Committee (DPC), headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. 

The NSS will also be the foundation stone for the military doctrine and declare a foundational military and strategic posture of the country. It will be in two parts. The unclassified part is expected to be made public.

The Ministry of Defence has argued before the 15th Finance Commission chaired by former Revenue Secretary NK Singh to include defence as part of the SDGs for the fund creation. The NSS report could be out as early as next month. It will need to be ratified by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The NSS will also lay down the framework of the kind of threats that could emerge beyond the two-front simultaneous war scenario with Pakistan and China.