Arun Joshi to Head National Security Advisory Board

The Union Government has reconstituted the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), appointing former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Alok Joshi as its new head. The board now comprises seven members, including senior retired officials from the armed forces, Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The newly inducted members include former Western Air Commander Air Marshal P.M. Sinha, former Southern Army Commander Lt. General A.K. Singh, and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna. Retired IPS officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, along with former diplomat B. Venkatesh Varma, complete the revamped board.This development follows the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead, including one Nepalese national, and injured several others.
The NSAB is a seven-member apex body that provides expert and strategic input on security-related matters to the government. Alok Joshi is regarded as one of the country’s most esteemed IPS officers, having held various successful assignments during his tenure in RAW and other postings. He is considered an expert in intelligence-driven operations.
In response to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at his residence. The CCS reviewed the situation and discussed the country’s preparedness and strategic response. Sources revealed that cross-border linkages to the attack were presented during the briefing. The attack comes at a time when the Union Territory has been witnessing peaceful elections and signs of economic progress.Following the CCS meeting, two more high-level meetings were held — the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).