Centre Revamps National Security Advisory Board; Ex-RAW Chief Alok Joshi Appointed Chair
In a significant post-Pahalgam attack move, the government has restructured the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), appointing former RAW chief Alok Joshi as its head.
Amid rising national security concerns, especially after the deadly terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, the Centre has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). Alok Joshi, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been appointed to chair the reconstituted panel.
The attack in the Baisaran Valley claimed the lives of 26 people and has triggered a series of security and diplomatic measures by New Delhi, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
The newly formed NSAB includes six members, drawing expertise from the military, police, and diplomatic services.
From the defence establishment, Lieutenant General AK Singh (former Southern Army Commander), Air Marshal PM Sinha (former Western Air Commander), and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna bring extensive operational experience.
The law enforcement sector is represented by retired IPS officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, while seasoned diplomat B Venkatesh Varma, a former envoy to Russia, will lend foreign policy insight.
Established in 1998, the NSAB advises the National Security Council (NSC) by offering long-term assessments, policy options, and strategic solutions on critical national security issues. It works under the aegis of the NSC Secretariat and plays a key role in shaping India’s strategic posture.
The last board, constituted in 2018, was headed by P.S. Raghavan, also a former ambassador to Russia.
This restructuring of the NSAB is part of a broader national strategy to reassess and fortify internal and external security protocols. Officials suggest that the new board’s composition reflects an intent to balance ground-level military insight with diplomatic strategy.
The terror attack in Pahalgam, which India has attributed to Pakistan-backed groups, has sparked global outrage and a recalibration of India’s national security priorities.
Government sources indicated that the new board will immediately begin reviewing long-term threat projections, technological preparedness, and global strategic alignments. Its input is expected to guide several future policy announcements.
More formal announcements are expected in the days to come as India continues to mount international pressure against Pakistan for its alleged support of terror networks.
