National Security Advisor Ajit Doval To Become India’s Most Powerful Bureaucrat: To Head Revived Strategic Policy Group

In order to assist the National Security Council, the BJP government at the centre has decided to revive the Strategic Policy Group. This is said to improve a long-term strategic defence review. This move will now make National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval the most powerful bureaucrat in India.

The group will focus on inter-ministerial coordination and integrate inputs in drafting security policies for the country, reported NDTV. Prior to this, the group was headed by the cabinet secretary.

Since the group involves members like the vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, cabinet secretary, three military heads, RBI governor, foreign secretary, home secretary, finance and the defence secretary, it makes Doval the most powerful bureaucrat.

Other members include officers from the revenue, atomic energy and space departments, also the Intelligence Bureau. The cabinet secretary will report to Doval and will coordinate with necessary ministries and states for the purpose of policy implementation.

Doval has been appointed as the chairman of the defence planning committee as well. This makes Ajit Doval one of the most powerful bureaucrats in the country. This comes as a surprise since the Modi government has less than six months left before general elections are conducted again.