Don’t Ignore Communication From Top Security Agencies: PM To Ministers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed all ministers and secretaries to give due importance to background notes and communications shared by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and National Security Advisor (NSA), urging them to take such information seriously, according to sources on Sunday.

During a five-hour meeting of the council of ministers held on Friday, attended by all Union government secretaries, Modi emphasized the need to consider policies from India’s strategic perspective. He pointed out instances where notes from the national security council were not accorded the necessary importance, citing the case of dependence on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) highlighted by the NSCS several years ago.

In response to Modi’s instructions, Deputy NSA Vikram Misri conducted an unscheduled presentation on NSCS during the meeting. The presentation covered global changes, especially in Europe, Russia, and the US, and their potential impact on India.

Finance Secretary TV Somanathan and Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam also made presentations during the meeting. Modi stressed the dynamic nature of the policy-making process, emphasizing the need for modifications to align with changing times. Drawing on his experience as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he shared an example of outdated rules related to a ministry named after another state, which he rectified by pointing it out to officials.

The prime minister urged against complacency in framing and implementing policies, emphasizing the importance of customizing policies to adapt to evolving circumstances.