Introduction
National Security And Defense: Critical Topics for UPSC 2025 In order to maintain India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and general stability, national security and defense are crucial components of the country’s larger governance system.
Given its significance in both the General Studies exams (exams II and III) and the Essay paper, candidates for the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 must have a solid understanding of national security and defense. Additionally, current events frequently touch on this subject, so candidates must remain informed about both domestic and international security issues.
As a growing global force, India faces a variety of security difficulties, from conventional military threats to newer problems like terrorism, cyberwarfare, and environmental security. Therefore, in order to succeed in the UPSC exam, students must have a thorough awareness of India’s military policy, geopolitical interests, and the complexity of contemporary security issues.
1. Understanding National Security
The defense of a country’s principles, interests, and way of life against both internal and external dangers is referred to as national security. It includes economic security, resource protection, internal law enforcement, military defense, and intelligence collection. For India, national security also entails dealing with non-traditional security issues including cyberwarfare and climate change, as well as threats originating from nearby nations.
The national security framework of India is supported by multiple pillars:
1 Defense and Armed Forces:
the main tools for preserving territorial integrity through contemporary defense capabilities, strategic alliances, and military might.
2 Diplomatic Strategies:
India’s engagement with neighboring countries and the global community to ensure peace, stability, and cooperative defense initiatives.
3 Internal Security Mechanisms:
Ensuring peace within the country through law enforcement, counterterrorism measures, and managing internal conflicts.
India’s defense strategy is intended to handle a complicated security landscape where attacks from the within as well as the outside provide formidable obstacles. India’s desire to protect its borders and interests is reflected in its emphasis on a comprehensive and contemporary military strategy that includes nuclear deterrence, strategic alliances, and domestic defense technologies.
2. Defense Policy and Strategy
India’s strategic goals, such as securing its borders, preserving military preparedness, and discouraging possible enemies, influence its defense strategy. Principles like self-reliance, deterrence, alliances, and non-aggression are central to India’s military strategy. The key to comprehending India’s defense mechanism is knowing these principles and how they are applied.
Some of the fundamental elements of India’s defense strategy include:
1 No First Use (NFU) of Nuclear Weapons:
India has a nuclear deterrent policy in which it will not use nuclear weapons first but will strike back if attacked. This approach is essential to maintaining national security, especially in relation to its neighbors who possess nuclear weapons.
2 Integrated Defense Force:
To guarantee a cohesive defense strategy, the Army, Navy, and Air Force—which make up the Indian Armed Forces—operate together. This strategy’s key elements are modernizing the forces, improving capabilities, and simplifying operations.
3 Strategic Partnerships:
India has increasingly formed strategic defense and security alliances with various countries, including the United States, Russia, Israel, and several ASEAN nations. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the U.S., defense agreements with Russia (S-400 missile system), and closer ties with Israel in defense technology highlight India’s multi-faceted approach to defense diplomacy.
Make in India for Defense: The Indian government’s Make in India initiative emphasizes self-reliance in defense production, reducing dependency on foreign arms suppliers. This initiative has led to increased investment in defense research and development, fostering domestic innovation.
3. Military Forces: Structure and Function
The Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force are the three main branches of India’s armed forces. Each is essential to maintaining the safety and security of India’s enormous and varied region.
1 Indian Army:
The backbone of India’s defense, tasked with protecting land borders, counterinsurgency operations, and disaster relief. The army is involved in peacekeeping operations and plays a central role in maintaining stability in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, the North-East, and areas affected by insurgency and terrorism.
2 Indian Navy:
The Navy ensures the security of India’s maritime boundaries, protecting key sea routes and shipping lanes, especially in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where much of global trade flows. With the rise of China’s naval power, India’s maritime security strategy has become increasingly important, and the Indian Navy plays a key role in asserting India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
3 Indian Air Force:
The Air Force is responsible for the protection of Indian airspace and the capability for swift retaliation. The Air Force plays an integral role in combat and surveillance missions, and the introduction of advanced systems like Rafale jets and DRDO’s indigenous technologies adds to India’s air defense strength.
In order to guarantee coordination and operational preparedness in the event of conflict, each branch of the armed forces also collaborates closely with intelligence organizations.
Read more
4. Border Security and Regional Dynamics
India has borders with a number of nations, each of which poses different security risks. The nation’s border security is complex, encompassing not only the military but also intelligence services, border security personnel, and diplomatic relations.
1 China:
The border with China, primarily the Line of Actual Control (LAC), remains a major point of tension. The strategic importance of the region, especially in places like Ladakh, and the dispute over territory, adds complexity to India’s security challenges. The Doklam standoff and ongoing tensions in the Galwan Valley serve as reminders of the challenges in managing relations with China.
2 Pakistan:
The border with Pakistan has been a source of conflict since independence. The Kashmir issue, cross-border terrorism, and the military standoff have made India’s defense readiness essential. The conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, along with Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, requires India to maintain constant vigilance and strategic readiness.
3 Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan:
These countries have friendly relations with India, but border security issues, including illegal immigration, cross-border trafficking, and regional instability, require attention.
4 Myanmar and the North-East:
The insurgencies in India’s North-Eastern states, such as Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, have involved cross-border militancy and challenges in securing porous borders.
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) are crucial to preserving security along these borders.
5. Internal Security: Counterterrorism and Insurgency
An essential component of India’s overall defense strategy is still internal security. Ethnic conflict, terrorism, and insurgencies are urgent issues that call for effective military action, intelligence gathering, and governance.
Key topics under internal security include:
1 Counter-Terrorism:
India faces significant threats from terrorist groups, particularly from Pakistan-based organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and homegrown insurgencies in Kashmir. The use of modern intelligence and counterterrorism tactics, as well as international cooperation, is vital in addressing these threats.
2 Insurgency in North-East India:
The North-Eastern region of India has been home to various insurgent groups for decades. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), and other regional insurgent groups demand autonomy or secession. India’s response involves a combination of military operations, political dialogue, and socio-economic development.
3 Maoist/Naxal Insurgency:
The Naxalite movement, a violent left-wing extremist ideology, operates in several tribal-dominated areas of central and eastern India. The government has adopted a strategy that combines both security measures and development initiatives to address the root causes of the insurgency, such as poverty, lack of infrastructure, and social inequality.
Read more
6. Emerging Security Threats: Cybersecurity, Space, and Climate Change
As the global security landscape evolves, India must also adapt to new, non-traditional security challenges:
1 Cybersecurity:
India faces risks from cyberattacks that target defense networks, government infrastructure, and vital data as a result of its growing reliance on digital technology. These assaults have the potential to undermine national security and are frequently carried out by both state and non-state entities. Strengthening the National Cyber Security Policy, establishing specialized organizations like the Indian Computer Emergency reaction Team (CERT-In), and advancing technology capabilities for cyberwarfare defense are all part of India’s reaction to cybersecurity threats.
2 Space Security:
The use of satellites for communication, surveillance, and navigation makes space a critical domain for national security. India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is increasingly focusing on the protection of space assets, with initiatives like the Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile Test, which enhances India’s ability to defend its space-based assets from external threats.
3 Climate Change and Environmental Security:
Environmental changes can pose national security risks, including displacement of populations, resource scarcity, and conflict over resources. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing agricultural patterns are factors that impact India’s long-term stability and security. India is already beginning to integrate environmental security into its broader defense policy.
7. India’s Defense Diplomacy and Global Role
India’s defense diplomacy is crucial in securing its interests in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. Through bilateral and multilateral agreements, India strengthens its strategic partnerships, increases defense cooperation, and positions itself as a key player in global security.
Key elements of India’s defense diplomacy include:
1 Multilateral Forums:
India is part of various regional and international forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meetings to engage with global powers.
2 Defense Trade and Technology Sharing:
India has been enhancing its defense trade with various countries, including the United States and Russia, to ensure access to cutting-edge defense technologies.
3 Peacekeeping Operations:
India has a long history of contributing to United Nations peacekeeping missions, enhancing its global standing as a responsible world power.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1273601403-149f62036fbc4b5ea325de3e8f9fdfe0.jpg)
Conclusion
India’s strategic planning and administration are heavily reliant on national security and defense, which have an impact on everything from military strategy to diplomatic relations. Candidates for the UPSC 2025 must possess a sophisticated awareness of the various facets of security and defense, such as India’s defense diplomacy, new non-traditional challenges, and conventional military issues.
Candidates will approach their exam preparation more successfully if they have a comprehensive comprehension of these topics in addition to a current affairs awareness.
Read more
FAQ
1 What is the significance of national security in UPSC preparation?
Since it addresses topics that affect India’s defense strategy, internal security, and sovereignty, national security is a crucial subject in UPSC. Both the essay and the general studies paper call for a thorough comprehension.
2 How do I stay updated on current affairs related to national security?
You can keep up with the most recent events by reading respectable publications like Frontline and The Hindu and The Indian Express. It might also be helpful to watch national security debates and read reports from organizations like the National Security Council and the Ministry of Defense.
3 What are the key topics to focus on for UPSC from the national security perspective?
Key topics include India’s defense strategy, armed forces’ structure, border security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, defense diplomacy, and India’s engagement in global security forums.
4 How do I link national security topics with current affairs?
Link theoretical ideas to current events, such as raging wars, shifting defense strategies, and global defense cooperation. Consult think tank papers, defense news, and updates from the Ministry of Defense.
5 What are some key reports to reference for national security-related questions?
The Annual Defense Review, the Defense White Paper, the Rashtriya Suraksha Report, and publications from think tanks like ORF (Observer Research Foundation) and IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses) are all significant papers.
Read more
