Maharashtra Board Class 11 Defense Studies Chapter 6 Higher Defence Organisation of India PDF Download

Higher Defence Organisation of India

India is a democracy. In a democratic system of government the final authority in any decision making rests with the people or their representatives. This is civilian authority. Therefore the supreme command of the Armed Forces vests in the President. The responsibility for national defence rests with the Cabinet. The principal task of the Defence Ministry is to obtain policy directions of the Government on all defence and security related matters. These are then communicated to the Services Headquarters, Inter-Services Organisations, Production Establishments and Research and Development Organisations for implementation.

The geographical features of India are unique. It shares a 15000 kms. (approx.) border with seven neighbouring countries and a 7500 kms. (approx.) coastline. Defending the land and coastal borders is a tremendous task that is performed by the Indian armed forces.

Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defence comprises of four Departments:

1. Department of Defence

The Department of Defence deals with the three Services i.e. Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. It also deals with Inter-Services Organization. It is also responsible for the Defence Budget, establishment matters, defence policy, matters relating to Parliament, defence cooperation with foreign countries, and coordination of all defence related activities.

Teacher's Note

India's Defence Ministry is like the big boss office that watches over all our army, navy, and air force. Just like a school principal manages all teachers and students, the Defence Ministry manages all soldiers.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ministry of Defence has four departments. Think of it as four rooms in one big office - each room has different work.

Points to Remember

The President is the supreme commander of Armed Forces.
The Defence Ministry gives policy directions to all defence services.
The Defence Department looks after Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Defence cooperation with foreign countries is also Defence Department's job.

2. Department of Defence Production

The Department of Defence Production (DDP) was set up in November 1962 with the objective of developing a comprehensive production infrastructure to produce the weapons, systems, platforms, equipment required for defence. The Department has established wide ranging production facilities through the Ordnance Factories and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The products manufactured include arms and ammunition, tanks, armoured vehicles, heavy vehicles, fighter aircrafts and helicopters, warships, submarines, missiles, ammunition, electronic equipment, earth moving equipment, special alloys and special purpose steels. The Ordnance Factories and DPSUs have been continuously modernizing and upgrading their capabilities to achieve self-reliance in defence production.

Teacher's Note

This department makes weapons and military equipment right here in India. Just like a factory makes clothes, this department makes tanks, airplanes, and missiles for our soldiers.

Exam Trick

Remember: DDP = Defence Production Department. It makes everything soldiers need - from guns to helicopters to ships.

Points to Remember

DDP was created in 1962 to make weapons in India.
It makes tanks, aircrafts, missiles and many other military equipment.
Ordnance Factories and DPSUs are the factories that make these weapons.
India wants to be self-reliant in making its own defence equipment.

3. Defence Research and Development Organisation

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was created in 1958 to provide scientific and technological advice to the Ministry of Defence. It works towards enhancing self-reliance in Defence Systems. It undertakes design and development of weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the requirements by the three services. DRDO is working in various areas of military technology which include aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation and life sciences.

Teacher's Note

DRDO is like the research team for our Defence Ministry. They design new weapons and study how to make them better, just like scientists in a laboratory.

Exam Trick

Remember: DRDO = Research and development. They invent and design new military technology. Think of them as scientists who make new weapons.

Points to Remember

DRDO was created in 1958 to do research and design weapons.
They develop missiles, aircrafts, combat vehicles and many other military systems.
DRDO provides scientific advice to the Defence Ministry.
They work in areas like aeronautics, electronics, and missiles.

4. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare was created in the Ministry of Defence in 2004 in order to pay focused attention to the welfare and resettlement of ex-service men. Its role is to formulate and implement various policies and programmes for the welfare and resettlement of Ex-Servicemen in the country. The Department consists of two Divisions i.e. (i) Resettlement Division; and (ii) Pension Division.

Teacher's Note

This department helps soldiers who retire from the army. After a soldier stops working, this department helps them find new jobs and gives them money as pension.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ex-Servicemen Welfare = Help for old soldiers. It gives them pensions and helps them get new jobs after leaving the army.

Points to Remember

This department was created in 2004 to help retired soldiers.
It has two divisions - one for giving jobs and one for giving pensions.
Ex-servicemen are soldiers who have left the army.
The department makes sure retired soldiers get support and can live well.

Higher Defence Organisation

India's Higher Defence Organisation is based on two principles:

One, there should be an interaction between the political executive and the Defence Services.

Two, the political executive would be the final authority in all matters dealing with security.

Thus, while the Armed Forces contribute to the decision making in matters of war and peace, the final decision is taken by the Prime Minister and the concerned committee.

Independent India had a three tier Higher Defence Organisation. The three levels were as follows:

1) The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) chaired by the Prime Minister.

2) The Defence Minister's Committee (DMC) chaired by the Defence Minister.

3) The Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) as part of the Military Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat.

After the 1962 India-China war, the DCC was first changed to Emergency Committee of the Cabinet and then to Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA). This was later renamed as Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). There were other committees too like the Joint Planning Committee, Joint Intelligence Committee, Joint Training Committee, Inter-Service Equipment Policy Committee etc.

Teacher's Note

The Higher Defence Organisation is like a system where political leaders and military leaders work together. The Prime Minister is the final boss who makes the big decisions about war and peace.

Exam Trick

Remember: Three-tier system = Three levels. Prime Minister at top, Defence Minister below, and Chiefs of Staff at bottom. Prime Minister has final say.

Points to Remember

Higher Defence Organisation is based on two principles - political leaders and military leaders together, with political leader having final authority.
Independent India had three-tier system of defence organization.
After 1962 India-China war, the system changed and Cabinet Committee on Security was created.
The Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Cabinet Committee on Security

The composition of this committee is as follows: Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Finance. (Composition as on 10.03.2018)

Teacher's Note

The Cabinet Committee on Security is like the top security team. Five important ministers sit together to discuss India's safety and security matters.

Exam Trick

Remember: CCS has 5 members - Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, External Affairs Minister, and Finance Minister. These are the most important ministers for security.

Points to Remember

Cabinet Committee on Security is the top decision-making body for security matters.
Prime Minister chairs this committee.
Five important ministers are members of this committee.
They make decisions about war, peace, and national security.

National Security Council (NSC)

The National Security Council was established in 1998. It advises the Prime Minister's office on matters of national security and strategic interest. The National Security Council consists of the following members: National Security Advisor; the Deputy National Security Advisor; Ministers of Defence, External Affairs and Finance; and Deputy Chairperson of the NITI Ayog. This is the apex body.

The Strategic Policy Group is the first level of the NSC structure. It prepares the Strategic Defence Review of short and long term security threats, as well as possible policy options on a priority basis. It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the chiefs of staff from the Army, Navy and Air Force, the governor of Reserve Bank of India, Secretaries of various the ministries and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau.

The Joint Intelligence Committee is the second level of the organisational structure of the NSC. Its role is to analyse intelligence data for the NSC.

The National Security Advisory Board is the NSC's 'think tank'. It consists experts in external security, strategic analysis, foreign affairs, defence, the armed forces, internal security, science and technology and economics.

Teacher's Note

The National Security Council is like a smart thinking group that gives advice to the Prime Minister on security. It has experts from many different fields.

Exam Trick

Remember: NSC = Think tank for security. It was made in 1998 and helps the Prime Minister understand threats and make good security decisions.

Points to Remember

NSC was established in 1998 to advise Prime Minister on security matters.
It has three levels - Strategic Policy Group, Joint Intelligence Committee, and National Security Advisory Board.
NSC is the top security advisory body.
It analyzes threats and gives advice on security policies.

Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)

In 2001 the Government of India set up the Integrated Defence Staff. The aim was to create a Point organisation for jointmanship in the Ministry of Defence. This would help to integrate security policy, doctrine, war fighting, and procurement under a single organisation.

The tasks performed by the Integrated Defence Staff are as follows:

1) Higher Defence Planning: This is a combined activity of various organisations. It provides for plans and strategies for ensuring national security. (See Chart for Higher Defence Planning)

2) Exercises: Indian Armed Forces regularly participate in various bilateral and multilateral exercises with the Defence Forces of other nations. These exercises may be for a specific service or Joint Tri-Services Exercises.

3) Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: The Integrated Defence Staff have been carrying out disaster relief operations within the country as well as outside the country. This includes evacuation, setting up of relief infrastructure, restoring communication and providing medical facilities, distributing ration supplies, clothing etc.

4) Acquisition: Based on Long, Medium and Short Term Plans procurement of required weapon systems/equipment/platforms is done by this organisation.

5) Budget: The IDS looks at various financial planning issues of Defence Services. It is responsible for forecasting, projecting, allocation and monitoring expenditure.

6) Training: The IDS looks into training requirements of the armed forces.

7) International Cooperation: IDS handles all issues relating to International Defence Cooperation and is responsible for implementation of Defence Cooperation as mandated by Foreign Policy of the Government of India.

8) Medical: The IDS looks into all matters pertaining to medical planning, health of troops, all medical aspects of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare techniques and disaster relief.

Teacher's Note

Integrated Defence Staff is like the organizing team that makes all three services (Army, Navy, Air Force) work together. It handles planning, training, money, and many other jobs.

Exam Trick

Remember: IDS = Integration team. It has 8 tasks - planning, exercises, disaster relief, buying weapons, money, training, international work, and medical help.

Points to Remember

IDS was created in 2001 to make all three services work together.
It does higher defence planning and coordinates military exercises.
It handles disaster relief and helps in international defence cooperation.
It looks after training, budget, and medical matters of armed forces.

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