Through its manifesto, the Congress said that if elected to form the government, it will return to the old recruitment processes followed by the Army, Navy and Air Force that it says will guarantee economic and social security for our soldiers. The Congress also promised to bring the post of National Security Adviser (NSA) under the supervision of Parliament, if voted to power.The other promises of the poll manifesto include bringing the National Security Council (NSC) and the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) under the oversight of a select committee of Parliament. At present, the PM-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) oversees the appointment of the NSA. The party also said the absence of a National Security Strategy led to ‘ad hoc and personalised policymaking’ under the current government. “After detailed deliberations, Congress will issue a comprehensive National Security Strategy,” it says.Further, the Congress has promised a reform in the appointments of CDS. It says that the post being ‘sensitive and crucial’ for military reform, preparedness and joint operations, the party will institutionalise the process of appointing the CDS to ensure ‘transparency and military consensus’. The Congress also promised to open combat and non-combat roles for women in the three forces. It said it will ‘systematically expand the opportunities’ for women to serve in combatant and non-combatant roles in the armed forces, if voted to power.
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