What is the Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS)? Check Functions, How It Works, Members and Other Key Details

In Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, a group of terrorists shot and killed 26 tourists on April 23, 2025. This tragic incident propelled the government to take immediate action to increase security measures in the region.

Our hon'ble prime minister, Shri Narendra Modi, cancelled his visit to Saudi Arabia to focus on addressing the security concerns in Pahalgam. He held a meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS) on Wednesday on this urgent matter.

The CCS meet was organised in the first half of the day, where India formulated its response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district.

According to current information, the Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founded by Hafiz Saeed, has claimed responsibility for the Tuesday tragedy.

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What is the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)? Members & Functions

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is a high-level cabinet committee of the Government of India responsible for discussing, debating, and making final decisions on matters related to national security, defence policy, and defence expenditure. It also oversees senior appointments in the national security apparatus.

Composition

The CCS is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and includes the following members:

• Prime Minister of India (Chair)
• Minister of Defence
• Minister of Home Affairs
• Minister of Finance
• Minister of External Affairs

Additionally, the National Security Advisor, Cabinet Secretary, and Defence Secretary often attend CCS meetings.

Functions and Roles

• Decides on defence-related issues, including procurement and expenditure.
• Handles matters concerning law and order and national security.
• Discusses international deals and agreements impacting India's security.
• Reviews political issues that may affect national security.
• Evaluates and recommends changes to the national security apparatus.
• Considers capital expenditure proposals exceeding Rs. 1000 crores related to Defence Production and Defence Research and Development.
• Addresses matters related to atomic energy.

Importance

The CCS is the apex decision-making body on India's security and defence matters, making it one of the most critical cabinet committees. It helps reduce the burden on the full Union Cabinet by allowing a smaller group of ministers to make timely decisions on sensitive security issues.

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How Does the Cabinet Committee on Security Work?

• The Prime Minister leads the committee.
• The core members provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to national security decision-making.
• The committee can include other experts and officials as needed.
• It's a flexible and adaptable committee that can respond to changing security challenges.

Why is the CCS important?

• It helps reduce the workload of the full Cabinet and makes decision-making more efficient.
• It's a permanent committee that focuses on security matters, unlike temporary committees that are formed for specific tasks.
• It's responsible for making key decisions on national security and defence expenditure.

Why is the CCS effective?

• It allows for efficient and speedy decision-making on critical security issues.
• It's a pragmatic approach to governance that doesn't require constitutional amendments.
• It's a "war cabinet" that can act quickly during times of conflict or extreme threat.

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How is the CCS Different From the National Security Council?

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the National Security Council (NSC) of India differ fundamentally in their roles, functions, and composition:

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)

The CCS is a cabinet-level decision-making body chaired by the Prime Minister, including key ministers such as Defence, Home Affairs, Finance, and External Affairs.

It is primarily a "sanctioning body" that deals with immediate and critical security issues like defence procurement, law and order, foreign policy decisions, and appointments related to national security.

The CCS makes final decisions on security matters and oversees operational and expenditure aspects, including nuclear doctrine and strategic forces.

It is limited to political leadership and does not routinely include military chiefs except in special circumstances.

National Security Council (NSC)

The NSC is an executive advisory body tasked with advising the Prime Minister on broader national security and foreign policy issues.

It focuses on long-term strategic planning, policy formulation, and inter-agency coordination across various security domains, including cybersecurity, border infrastructure, counter-terrorism, and maritime security.

The NSC has a more flexible structure and can include military service chiefs as members of its Special Protection Group (SPG), enhancing civil-military interaction, especially in non-crisis situations.

It is supported by the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which prepare policy papers and coordinate between agencies.

The NSC drives whole-of-government action on functional security issues and is involved in strategic foresight, unlike the CCS, which handles immediate sanctioning.

Summary of Differences

What are the Primary Responsibilities of the CCS?

The primary responsibilities of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) include:

• Formulating national security and defence policy.
• Deciding on strategic military operations and crisis response.
• Approving major defence acquisitions and expenditure proposals.
• Shaping policies on terrorism, border disputes, nuclear strategy, and other critical security matters.
• Making decisions on appointments related to the national security apparatus.
• Overseeing law and order issues with national security implications.
• Reviewing and sanctioning capital expenditure proposals related to Defence Production and Defence Research and Development, especially those exceeding Rs. 1000 crores.
• Handling matters related to atomic energy and strategic forces.

Is the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) Constitutional?

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS) is extra-constitutional, which means it is not mentioned in the Indian Constitution and is instituted to reduce the pressure on the central government by allowing smaller groups of ministers to make decisions on specific matters.

They are formed or reconstituted when a new government takes office or the Cabinet is reshuffled.

The Prime Minister creates small groups of ministers, called Cabinet Committees, to help make decisions on specific topics. The Prime Minister chooses which ministers are in each group and what tasks they will work on.

Additionally, each committee has between 3 to 8 members, usually from the Cabinet. Sometimes, non-Cabinet ministers can also join or be invited to attend meetings.

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