Maharashtra Board Class 9 Political Science Chapter 3 Indias Defence System PDF Download

India's Defence System

Let's Revise!

In the last chapter, we studied India's foreign policy. We have now understood that the primary national interest of a country includes defence from foreign aggression and internal unrest and keeping the borders safe. For this, every nation creates a defence system at the national level. India has also created such a system. In this chapter, we are going to understand its nature and study the challenges it faces.

What is National Security?

The international system is made up of sovereign nations. Even if they cooperate with each other, sometimes there are conflicts between these sovereign nations. There are disputes between nations over boundaries or sometimes conflicts emerge between them over water sharing. Some other reasons for conflict could be: not following the terms of international treaties, constantly competing against each other and influx of refugees from neighbouring countries. Whenever such a conflict of interests arises between nations, it is sought to be resolved by compromises and discussions. But when such efforts are not enough to resolve the conflict, a nation may even think of war. When a nation attacks another and challenges the sovereignty of the latter, it endangers the security of the nation. Such challenges are created due to the military power of aggressive nations. In any situation, a nation's first duty and responsibility is to be keep the security systems always well-prepared and ready. This is called as National Security.

Teacher's Note

National Security means keeping our country safe from attacks by other countries. Just like your family locks the door to keep thieves out, India also needs strong armies to keep enemies away.

Exam Trick

Remember: National Security = Country Safety. Think of it like a student keeping his school bag safe from others. India keeps its borders safe in the same way.

Points to Remember

National Security is about protecting a country from foreign attacks and internal problems.
Every nation must keep its security systems ready and strong.
Conflicts between nations happen over borders, water, and treaties.
Nations try to solve conflicts through talks before going to war.
A nation's first duty is to protect its people and borders.

Ways to Safeguard National Security

National Security is closely connected with geography, because national security is more likely to be endangered by nations who are geographically closer. A nation must assess the threat to its geographical boundaries and the source of that threat.

In order to keep this threat at bay, the nation has to increase its military might. The nation has to use modern technology to predict the threat, to build weapon systems and modernise and update the defence forces.

Resolving conflict by taking recourse to war in order to safeguard national security brings internal peace into danger. Hence, some nations try to get the support of other nations to manage the threat to their national security.

Teacher's Note

Nations that are close to each other are more likely to have conflicts. India must always watch its neighbors like Pakistan and China because they are near our borders.

Exam Trick

Remember: Geography matters for security. Your neighbor is closer than someone far away. So India worries more about Pakistan and China because they are next to us.

Points to Remember

Countries that are geographically near are more dangerous to national security.
A nation must check threats coming from nearby borders.
Nations increase military power to protect themselves.
Nations use modern technology to build weapons and update their armies.
War brings danger to peace, so nations try to get help from other countries instead.

India's Security System

India's security system includes the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the three forces that defend the country. The responsibility of protecting the geographical boundaries is on the Army, whereas the Navy protects the coastline. The Air Force is in charge of protecting India's air space. The Ministry of Defence controls all the three forces. The Indian Army is very big. It is the world's seventh largest. Its Chief is known as the General. The Chief of Navy is known as the Admiral, while the Chief of the Air Force is known as Air Chief Marshall. These three chiefs are appointed by the President.

The President of India is the supreme commander of the defence forces. The defence forces cannot take any decisions about war or peace without the consent of the President, because the latter represents the civil power. In a democracy civil leadership is considered superior to military leadership.

Many measures are taken so that all three defence forces in India's security system are adequately modernised. For this, some research institutions have been set up. Many training institutes have also been set up in our country to train the personnel of all ranks of our defence forces, so that they can perform their task competently. For example, the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune and the National Defence College (NDC) at Delhi, etc.

Teacher's Note

India has three armies: Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Army protects our land, Navy protects our sea, and Air Force protects our sky. The President is the boss of all three armies, just like the principal is the boss of a school.

Exam Trick

Remember: Three forces protect India. Army = land, Navy = sea, Air Force = sky. The President is their commander-in-chief. Democracy means civilian power is bigger than military power.

Points to Remember

India has three defence forces: Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Army protects our geographical boundaries and land.
The Navy protects our coastline and oceans.
The Air Force protects our air space from above.
The President is the supreme commander of all defence forces.

Paramilitary Forces

There are Paramilitary Forces to help the defence forces in India. They are neither completely military forces nor completely civil forces. Hence, they are called paramilitary forces. Their main task is to help the defence forces. The Border Security Force, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Rapid Action Force are some of the paramilitary forces.

The paramilitary forces are responsible for the security of important locations like railway stations, oil depots, water reserves, etc.

Similarly, they play a role in management of disasters, whether natural or man-made. The responsibility of protecting the country's international borders during peace time also rests with the paramilitary forces.

The Border Security Force performs tasks like creating a sense of security in the minds of people living in areas near the border, preventing smuggling, patrolling the border, etc.

The Coast Guard has been created to protect India's oceanic borders. The Coast Guard carries out tasks like protecting the fishing occupation within Indian maritime borders, preventing smuggling along sea routes, etc.

The Central Reserve Police Force helps the administration in various States to maintain law and order.

The Rapid Action Force performs the task of bringing people's lives to normalcy by moving in quickly in incidents of threat to National Security such as bomb blasts or riots.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has been established with the purpose of instilling among students the love of discipline and military training. Boy and girl students from schools and colleges can join the NCC.

Home Guards

This organisation was established in the pre-independence period. Citizens can join the Home Guard and assist in the defence of the country. Any citizen, man or woman, between the ages of 20 to 35 years can join the Home Guards.

This force has the following tasks: Maintain public security, supply of milk, water and other essential services during riots or strikes, to regulate traffic, to help people at the time of natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, etc.

Teacher's Note

Paramilitary forces are like helpers to the main army. They protect train stations, oil stores, and help during earthquakes. NCC teaches boys and girls from schools military training and discipline.

Exam Trick

Remember: Paramilitary = half military, half civil. BSF = Border, Coast Guard = Sea, NCC = student training. Home Guards = common people helping defend the country like neighbors helping neighbors.

Points to Remember

Paramilitary forces are between military and civil forces and help the main armies.
Border Security Force protects our land borders and stops smuggling.
Coast Guard protects our oceans and fishing areas.
Central Reserve Police Force helps states maintain law and order.
NCC teaches students discipline and military training in schools and colleges.

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