National security and arms control
We protect a home with a lock, a watchman and good relations with neighbours. A country keeps up its security preparedness in the same way.
National security means keeping the security systems always ready to protect a country’s independence, sovereignty and borders. Arms control means efforts to limit the number and use of weapons by avoiding an arms race.
Key idea 1 : Why do conflicts arise? — Even if sovereign nations cooperate, sometimes conflicts arise between them. Boundary disputes, water sharing, not following terms of treaties, constant competition and influx of refugees from neighbouring countries are some causes. Such conflicts of interests are first sought to be resolved by compromise and discussion but if these are not enough a nation may even think of war.
Key idea 2 : Ways to safeguard national security — National security is closely connected with geography because threat is more likely from geographically nearer nations. A nation must assess the threat to its borders and its source. For this it needs to increase military might, use modern technology to predict threats, build weapon systems and modernise the defence forces. Some nations also try to get the support of other nations.
Key idea 3 : Arms control, not an arms race — Resolving conflict by war brings internal peace in danger. Nations enter into an arms race to increase military might but it further increases the sense of insecurity and the threat to security. To avoid this we need arms control. The more the dialogue and interdependence between nations, the more peace and security are strengthened and nations will avoid war out of fear of economic losses.
- Easy : A dispute between two countries over water sharing. — One cause of conflict.
- Medium : Refugees coming from a neighbouring country. — Another cause of conflict.
- Exam-type : Two countries stock more and more weapons. — Arms race.
In the figure: Chain showing how conflict should be resolved.
What happened before the 1998 Pokhran tests? India’s first nuclear test was in 1974 (‘Smiling Buddha’ at Pokhran, Rajasthan). After that India stayed outside the NPT.
What happened after the 1998 Pokhran tests? India tested again on 11 and 13 May 1998, and Pakistan tested on 28 May. India announced a halt to further tests and a ‘no first use’ policy, and issued a draft nuclear doctrine in August 1999.
First talks, then compromise; war the last thought.
An arms race does not raise security; it raises insecurity.
Memory clue: Conflict-Compromise-Peace. Memory clue: “settle the quarrel, not stock the weapons”.
Spot the difference
| Point | Arms race | Arms control |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Insecurity grows | Trust grows |
| Cost | Heavy defence expense | Less expense |
| Peace | Endangered | Strengthened |
Practice questions
- 1What is national security?
- 2State any three causes of conflict among nations.
- 3What is the connection between national security and geography?
- 4What are the effects of an arms race?
- 5How does more dialogue strengthen peace?
- 6Why is safeguarding national security by war dangerous?
- 7Explain why arms control is necessary.
- 8All countries are not equal in military might; how should arms control be implemented then?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Keeping defence systems always ready to protect a country’s independence, sovereignty and borders.
- 2Boundary disputes, water sharing and influx of refugees.
- 3Threat is more from nearer nations so the threat to borders must be assessed.
- 4The sense of insecurity and threat increase.
- 5Talks and interdependence help settle disputes peacefully.
- 6Because war endangers peace within the country.
- 7To avoid an arms race and reduce insecurity.
- 8Through mutual dialogue, treaties and monitoring (student’s view).
Defence forces of India
In a school ground games, water sports and air activities are with different teachers. Likewise in India’s defence land, sea and sky are with different forces.
Defence forces are the three forces that defend the country — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force — which are controlled by the Ministry of Defence.
Key idea 1 : The three forces and their chiefs — The Army is responsible for protecting geographical boundaries, the Navy for the coastline and the Air Force for air space. The Army chief is known as General, the Navy chief as Admiral and the Air Force chief as Air Chief Marshal. To maintain coordination among the three forces the post of ‘Chief of Defence Staff’ was created in 2019. These chiefs are appointed by the President.
Key idea 2 : Civil power is supreme — The President is the supreme commander of the defence forces. The defence forces cannot take any decision about war or peace without the President’s consent because the President represents civil power. In a democracy civil leadership is considered superior to military leadership.
Key idea 3 : Modernisation and training — Research institutions have been set up so that all three forces are adequately modernised and training institutes train personnel of all ranks to perform competently. For example, the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune and the National Defence College (NDC) at Delhi.
- Easy : Who protects the coastline? — The Navy.
- Medium : What is the Air Force chief called? — Air Chief Marshal.
- Exam-type : Who is the supreme commander? — The President.
In the figure: The three forces and their responsibilities.
What happened before the creation of the CDS post? After the 1999 Kargil war a committee that examined gaps in the security system recommended appointing a single chief military adviser for the three forces. For many years afterwards the post kept being discussed.
What happened after the creation of the CDS post? On 15 August 2019 the Prime Minister announced the post of Chief of Defence Staff from the Red Fort. On 30 December 2019 General Bipin Rawat was appointed the first CDS and on 1 January 2020 he took charge.
As per the textbook the Indian Army is the seventh largest in the world; this ranking can change so write as per the book in exams. (check with the book)
Land = Army; sea = Navy; sky = Air Force.
The CDS is not a fourth force chief; it is a post that coordinates the three forces.
Memory clue: Land-Sea-Air. Memory clue: “General for ground, Admiral for water, Marshal for sky”.
Spot the difference
| Force | Responsibility | Chief |
|---|---|---|
| Army | Land borders | General |
| Navy | Coastline | Admiral |
| Air Force | Air space | Air Chief Marshal |
Practice questions
- 1Which are the three defence forces of India?
- 2Write the responsibility of each force.
- 3What are the designations of the chiefs of the three forces?
- 4Who is the supreme commander and why?
- 5What happened before and after the CDS post was created?
- 6Why is civil leadership considered superior in a democracy?
- 7Where are the NDA and NDC and what is their work?
- 8Prepare a table comparing the three forces.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Army, Navy and Air Force.
- 2Army: land borders; Navy: coastline; Air Force: air space.
- 3General, Admiral and Air Chief Marshal.
- 4The President; because he or she represents civil power.
- 5Before: the post-Kargil recommendation (1999); after: the 15 August 2019 announcement and the first CDS on 1 January 2020.
- 6Because decisions should be taken by people’s representatives, not the military.
- 7NDA at Pune and NDC at Delhi; they train officers.
- 8The student should make a table on the lines above.
Paramilitary forces, NCC and Home Guards
In a school there are assistant teachers who help the main teachers. Likewise there are paramilitary forces that help the defence forces.
Paramilitary forces are forces that are neither completely military nor completely civil; their main task is to help the defence forces. The Home Guards is a voluntary organisation of citizens to assist in defence.
Key idea 1 : Main paramilitary forces — The Border Security Force (BSF), the Coast Guard, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) are some of the paramilitary forces. They are responsible for security of important places like railway stations, oil depots and water reserves and for help in natural or man-made disasters. The responsibility of protecting international borders during peace time also rests with them.
Key idea 2 : Work of each force — The Border Security Force creates a sense of security among people near the border, prevents smuggling and patrols the border. The Coast Guard protects the oceanic borders, protects fishing and prevents smuggling along sea routes. The CRPF helps States maintain law and order. The Rapid Action Force moves in quickly in incidents like bomb blasts or riots to bring life back to normal.
Key idea 3 : NCC and Home Guards — The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has been established to instil in students the love of discipline and military training; boys and girls from schools and colleges can join. The Home Guards were established in the pre-independence period; maintaining public security, supply of milk and water, regulating traffic and helping in floods and earthquakes are their tasks.
- Easy : Who protects fishing and prevents sea smuggling? — The Coast Guard.
- Medium : Who patrols the border? — The Border Security Force.
- Exam-type : Who gives discipline and military training to students? — NCC.
In the figure: Paramilitary forces and auxiliary organisations.
What happened before the founding of the Coast Guard? In the early 1970s committees were set up to stop sea smuggling; in September 1974 the Rustamji Committee was constituted. Around the same time the discovery of oil at Bombay High increased the need to protect offshore oil installations.
What happened after the founding of the Coast Guard? On 1 February 1977 an interim Coast Guard began with two ships from the Navy and five patrol boats. In 1978 it was formally established by the Coast Guard Act; 1 February is Coast Guard Day.
What happened before the all-India Home Guards? On 6 December 1946, during riots and unrest in Bombay Province, the first Home Guards unit was raised to help the police. Some States adopted the idea and voluntary forces came up under different names.
What happened after the all-India Home Guards? After the Chinese aggression of 1962 the Centre advised States to merge their voluntary bodies into a single all-India voluntary force called the Home Guards. Every year 6 December is observed as Home Guards Raising Day.
As per the textbook any citizen between 20 and 35 years can join the Home Guards; other sources show a different age limit so write as per the book in exams. (check with the book)
Border = BSF; sea = Coast Guard; riot = RAF.
Paramilitary forces and the Army are not the same; paramilitary forces help the defence forces.
Memory clue: BSF-Coast-CRPF-RAF. Memory clue: “BSF on the border, Coast Guard on the sea”.
Spot the difference
| Force | Area | Main tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Border Security Force | Border | Patrol, preventing smuggling |
| Coast Guard | Oceanic border | Protect fishing, prevent smuggling |
| Rapid Action Force | Riots and blasts | Restoring normal life |
Practice questions
- 1What are paramilitary forces?
- 2Write the functions of the Border Security Force.
- 3For what was the Coast Guard created?
- 4What are the functions of the Rapid Action Force?
- 5What happened before and after the founding of the Coast Guard?
- 6What is the Home Guards and what are its tasks?
- 7What is the purpose of the NCC?
- 8Compare paramilitary forces and defence forces.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Forces neither completely military nor civil that help the defence forces.
- 2Creating a sense of security near the border, preventing smuggling and patrolling.
- 3To protect India’s oceanic borders.
- 4Moving in quickly after riots or blasts to restore normal life.
- 5Before: the 1974 Rustamji Committee and discovery of oil; after: the interim force on 1 February 1977 and the 1978 Act.
- 6A voluntary citizens’ force; services during riots or strikes, traffic regulation and disaster help.
- 7To instil love of discipline and military training in students.
- 8Defence forces: direct war; paramilitary: help, border patrol, disaster management.
Challenges to security and human security
Even if a home has a lock, its people getting food, education and health is also security. People’s security is part of a country’s security as well.
Human security means protecting human beings from all sorts of dangers and giving them opportunities of education, health and development. The human being is at the centre.
Key idea 1 : External challenges — Since independence Pakistan and China have tried to threaten India’s national security. With Pakistan the issues are the Kashmir question, disputes over river water sharing, infiltration and the border dispute; India has tried to solve them by discussion and negotiations. In 1962 India had to go to war with China. As China tries to establish hegemony over neighbouring countries there are tensions and there is also a border dispute.
Key idea 2 : Internal challenges — India’s security is threatened by outside powers and also from within. Religion, regionalism, rebellious movements based on ideology, race-ethnicity and economic inequality are creating instability. For example, the Naxalite movement is a threat to India’s internal security. Terrorism is the biggest challenge to internal security; it is a global problem and India is making efforts to end it.
Key idea 3 : Human security — After the Cold War the concept of national security became broader; it became the security not only of the country but of the people living in it, because security is ultimately for people. A conducive environment is needed to overcome illiteracy, poverty, superstition and backwardness so that everyone lives a respectable life, along with protection of the rights of minorities and weaker sections. Challenges to human security: terrorism, pollution and changes in the environment, diseases like AIDS, chikungunya, swine flu, ebola and corona, and growing violence in society.
- Easy : The Kashmir question and water-sharing disputes. — Disputes with Pakistan.
- Medium : The Naxalite movement. — A threat to internal security.
- Exam-type : Protecting people from a pandemic. — Part of human security.
In the figure: External, internal and human security.
The textbook calls terrorism the biggest challenge to human security and also the biggest challenge to internal security; give the context as per the question in exams. (check with the book)
External = Pakistan-China; internal = Naxal, terrorism; human = person at centre.
Security does not mean only the army; education, health and dignity are also included.
Memory clue: Ext-Int-Human. Memory clue: “outside, inside and the person”.
Spot the difference
| Type | Threat of | Example |
|---|---|---|
| National security | Country’s borders and sovereignty | Border dispute |
| Internal security | Instability within the country | Naxalism, terrorism |
| Human security | Human life and dignity | Disease, pollution, violence |
Practice questions
- 1What is human security?
- 2What disputes does India have with Pakistan?
- 3State the causes of tension in relations with China.
- 4What are the threats to India’s internal security?
- 5State two challenges to human security.
- 6How did the concept of national security change after the Cold War?
- 7Why is it necessary to end terrorism for human security?
- 8What peace measures should there be to prevent growing violence in society?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Protection of human beings from all dangers and opportunities of education, health and development.
- 2The Kashmir question, river water sharing, infiltration and the border dispute.
- 3China’s attempts to establish hegemony over neighbours and the border dispute.
- 4Naxalism, terrorism, regionalism, economic inequality.
- 5Terrorism and disease/pollution.
- 6It became security of the people and not only of the country.
- 7Because terrorism targets common innocent people and creates insecurity.
- 8Dialogue, education and social awareness (student’s view).