What comprises India’s National Security Doctrine? Why is it not codified? UPSC MAINS GS 3 INTERNAL SECURITY SERIES

 What comprises India’s National Security Doctrine? Why is it not codified?

India’s National Security Doctrine refers to the systematic articulation of strategic objectives, interests, and the modalities to achieve and safeguard them against internal and external threats.

It covers military, economic, energy, food, health, environmental, and technological security, and addresses both state and non-state actors.

The doctrine is shaped by India’s threat perceptions, geopolitical realities, resource allocation, coordination mechanisms, and accountability structures.

Key elements include preventive deterrence, no tolerance for nuclear blackmail, and a focus on both military and soft power.

India has no formally codified National Security Doctrine. This is due to political hesitation, lack of consensus, and a deliberate policy of strategic ambiguity to maintain flexibility in a dynamic security environment.

Some experts argue that written doctrines risk rigidity, limiting the ability to adapt to unforeseen challenges.

Others, however, highlight the need for a transparent, accountable framework—especially given India’s complex security landscape, including terrorism, insurgencies, and grey-zone threats from adversaries like Pakistan and China.

Globally, countries like the USA and China have explicit national security strategies.

India, meanwhile, relies on unwritten principles, periodic white papers, and institutionalized processes (e.g., National Security Council, Chief of Defence Staff) to guide security policy. The absence of a codified doctrine has sparked debate: while it allows adaptive responses (e.g., Balakot airstrikes, Operation Sindoor), critics argue it creates inconsistencies in strategic communication and may delay coordinated action during crises.

From open sources, it is evident that the Doval Doctrine—emphasizing swift retaliation, zero tolerance for terror, and integrating civil society into security—informs India’s approach, even if unstated. The 2024 National Security Strategies Conference highlighted ongoing efforts to formalize elements of the doctrine, but without a public, comprehensive document. The balance between flexibility and clarity remains a central challenge for India’s security architecture.