Notes-Class 9-Political Science-Chapter-3-India’s Defence System-Maharashtra Board

India's Defence System

Maharashtra Board-Class-9-Political Science-Chapter-3

Notes

Topics to be learn :

  • What is National Security ?
  • Ways to safeguard National Security
  • India’s Security System
  • Challenges to India’s security
  • Human Security
  • Challenges to Human Security

National Security :

  • Every nation like India creates a defence system at the national level.
  • In international system, the sovereign nations cooperate with each other. But there are also conflicts between them.
  • There are disputes between nations over boundaries, water sharing, not following the terms of international treaties, constantly competing against each other and influx of refugees from neighbouring countries.
  • Whenever such a conflict arises, it is sought to be resolved by compromises and discussions.
  • However, when such efforts do not succeed, a nation may resort to war. A nation attacks another nation and challenges its sovereignty and endangers security.
  • In such a situation, the nation's first duty is to keep the security systems well-prepared and ready. This is called National Security.

Ways to safeguard National Security :

  • National Security is more likely to be endangered by neighbouring countries.
  • A nation must assess the threat to its geographical boundaries and the source of that threat.
  • To keep this threat in check, a nation has to increase its military might. It has to use modern technology to predict the threat, to build weapon systems and modernise and update the defence forces.
  • Some nations try to get the support of other nations to manage the threat to their national security.

India's Security System :

  • India's Security system includes the Army, the Navy and the Air Force that defend the country.
  • The responsibility of protecting the geographical boundaries is of the Army.
  • The Navy protects India's coastline.
  • The Air Force is in charge of protecting India; air space.
  • The Ministry of Defence controls these three forces.
  • The Indian Army is the world's fourth largest. Its Chief is known as the General.
  • The Chief of Navy is known as the Admiral. The Chief of the Air Force is known as Air Chief Marshal.

Role of President in the security system of India :

Role of President in India’s Security System :

  • In a democracy, civil leadership is considered superior to military leadership.
  • The President of India represents the civil authority.
  • He appoints the Chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
  • The defence forces cannot take any decisions about war or peace without the consent of the President.

Therefore, the President of India is regarded as the Supreme Commander of the defence forces.

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Steps taken to modernise the security system in India :

Steps taken to modernise the security system in India :

  • Many measures are taken to modernise all three defence forces in India's security system.
  • To modernise the security system, research institutions like Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) have been set up.
  • India has developed nuclear missiles like Prithvi, Agni, Akash and Nag, Brhmos.
  • Many training institutes like Indian Military Academy at Dehradun  National Defence College and National Defence Academy have been established to train the personnel of all ranks of our defence forces.

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Paramilitary Forces :

  • The Border Security Force, the Coast Guard, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Rapid Action Force are some of the paramilitary forces.
  • Paramilitary Forces are neither completely military forces nor completely civil forces. Their main task is to help the defence forces.
  • They are responsible for the security of important locations like railway stations, oil depots, water reserves, etc.
  • They play a role in management of disasters. The responsibility of protecting the country's international borders during peace time also rests with the paramilitary forces.

Paramilitary Forces details :

(a) The Border Security Force : It creates a sense of security in the minds of people living in areas near the border, prevent smuggling and patrol the border.

(b) The Coast Guard : It was created to protect India's oceanic borders. It protects the fishermen within Indian maritime borders and prevents smuggling along sea routes.

(c) The Central Reserve Police Force : It helps the administration in various states to maintain law and order.

(d) The Rapid Action Force: It brings people's lives to normalcy by moving in quickly in incidents of threat to National Security such as bomb blasts or riots.

(e) The National Cadet Corps (NCC) : It was established to instil discipline among students and to provide military training. Students from schools and colleges can join the NCC.

(f) Home Guards : It was established in the pre-independence period to assist in the defence of the country. Any citizen between the ages of 20 to 35 years can join the Home Guards. It maintains public security, supplies milk, water and other essential services during riots or strikes, regulates traffic and helps people at the time of natural disasters.

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Challenges to Indias Security :

Challenges to India's security :

  • Pakistan and China have threatened India's National Security.
  • India and Pakistan have a dispute over the Kashmir issue, river water sharing, problem of infiltrations and over border. India has tried to solve these issues through discussion and negotiations.
  • A war between India and China took place in 1962. China is trying to establish its hegemony over countries in India's neighbourhood. There is border dispute between India and China.
  • India's security is threatened from within Religion, regionalism, several rebellious movements based on ideology, race-ethnicity and economic inequality are creating instability. The Naxalite movement is a threat to India’s internal security.
  • Terrorism is the biggest challenge to India’s internal security. Now, it is a global problem as well.

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Human Security :

  • National Security is the security of the country as well as the people living within the country.
  • In the post-cold war period, the concept of national security became broader. It refers to human-centric thinking.
  • It is expected that human beings should be protected from dangers and given the opportunities of education, health and development.
  • A conducive environment should be created for everyone to live a respectable life by overcoming illiteracy, poverty, superstition, backwardness.
  • Human security includes the protection of the rights of minorities and weaker sections of the society.

Challenges to Human Security :

Challenges to Human Security :

  • Terrorism is the biggest challenge to human security. Terrorism targets common people. It tries to create fear in the minds of people and make them feel insecure.
  • Pollution and other hazardous changes ‘in the environment have threatened human life.
  • Diseases like AIDS, chikungunia, swine flu, ebola have presented a big challenge.
  • Protecting human beings from such diseases is also considered as a factor of human security.

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Useful links :

Main Page : - Maharashtra Board Class 9th History & Political Science  - All chapters notes, solutions, videos, test, pdf.

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