Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)

Prelims – Current events of national and international importance| Indian Polity and Governance.

Mains (GS II) – Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government.

Why in News?

Recently, Prime Minister convened an urgent CCS meeting at his residence following the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

A Cabinet Committee is extra-constitutional and are not mentioned in the Indian Constitution.

• CCS is a high-powered committee responsible for debates, discussions and appointments of/ in the national security bodies.
• Major decisions with respect to significant appointments, issues of national security, and defence expenditure are taken by the CCS.
• The CCS discusses and takes decisions on urgent concerns on India’s national security.
• The CCS brainstorms on issues relating to law and order and internal security.
• It also considers matters relating to atomic energy.

• Structure and Composition – Members -
  • Prime Minister (Chairperson)
  • Defence Minister
  • Home Minister
  • Finance Minister
  • External Affairs Minister
• It can also include the defence chiefs and other senior bureaucrats, depending on the situation and the nature of the discussion.
• The National Security Advisor (At present - Ajit Doval) acts as secretary-level coordinator.
• The Cabinet Secretariat maintains records of all CCS meetings.

CCS meetings have been called during major events in India’s history, including the wars with Pakistan, the Kargil conflict and the Kandahar hijack.

Recent decisions made by CCS after the Pahalgam attack

• Suspension of Indus-water treaty - The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
• Closure of Attar-wagah border - The Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect.
• Visa suspension - Suspension of SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas.
• Diplomatic measures - The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India.
• India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
• Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.
• The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions.

Reference

Indian Today | Cabinet Committee on Security