National Security Council
- It was established in 1998
- It is the apex agency looking into – external and internal security, military affairs, conventional and non-conventional defense, space and high technology, counter insurgency, counter terrorism, economy and environment.
- It is headed by the Prime Minister, with the National Security Adviser as its Secretary. The military has no representation in this tier.
- It has a three tiered structure comprising the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and a Secretariat represented by the Joint Intelligence Committee.
National Security Advisor
- The NSA is the chief executive of National Security Council (NSC) and primary advisor to Prime Minister on national and international security and oversees strategic issues.
- It is the NSA to whom intelligence agencies such as RAW and Intelligence Bureau report, rather than directly to Prime Minister.
- Due to such vested powers, NSA is prominent and powerful office in the bureaucracy.
- NSA is assisted by a Deputy NSA.