New Delhi:

Intelligence gathering has taken a back seat in the Union Budget 2025-26 as the Centre has reduced the flow of funds of several verticals that deal with intelligence collection and dissemination, including the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) – the apex body for all matters concerning internal and external security.

According to Notes on Demand for Grants (2025-26), Rs 182.75 crore has been allocated to NSCS in comparison to Rs 270.08 crore (revised estimate) last financial year.

The budget of the Intelligence Bureau was also reduced by around Rs 100 crore. Last year, Rs 3,966 crore was allocated to the agency in the revised Budget but this year, the amount has been reduced to Rs 3,893 crore.

“This (reduction) indicates that the number of personnel working in these two arms of the intelligence apparatus are being reduced as revenue in both heads have come down,” a senior officer explained, seeking anonymity. 

According to the officer, salaries, pensions and other expenses of intelligence personnel fall under the head of revenue, and the capital suggests a new set up is being built.

The Notes on Demand for Grants said that out of Rs 182.75 crore allocated to NSCS, Rs 127.51 crore is being granted under the revenue head. 

Similarly, for the Intelligence Bureau, of the Rs 3,893 crore, Rs 3,662 crore has been allocated under the revenue head. 

For the Intelligence Bureau, only Rs 230 crore has been allocated for capital expenditure. The amount last year was about Rs 437 crore, even though it was reduced to Rs 307 crores in the revised Budget.

Interestingly, the budget of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has also seen a reverse swing this time. Last year, Rs 247.72 crore was allocated to NATGRID in the revised Budget, but this time, only Rs 158.23 crore has been set aside. As per estimates, about 36% of its budget has been slashed by the government. 

The NATGRID is another crucial intelligence arm of the country and provides back end support to counter security threats.

Funds for the Special Protection Group (SPG), another elite force that looks after the security of the Prime Minister of India, were also reduced. Rs 489 crore has been allocated this year, which is around Rs 22 crore less than last year. In 2024-25, the revised budget was Rs 510.97 crore.

The Narendra Modi government has made key changes to National Security  Council Secretariat (NSCS) with promotion of deputy NSA Rajinder Khanna to Additional NSA and appointing Special Director of Intelligence Bureau TV Ravichandran as Deputy NSA.

“Now NSA Ajit Doval is free to assist PM Modi fully and other issues concerning internal security would be handled by Additional NSA,” a senior functionary in the government told NDTV.

According to the official, Mr Khanna’s elevation is also aimed at maintaining continuity in the national security framework.

“With DIB Tapan Deka given an extension for a year, government has tried to rehabilitate TV Ravichandran as Deputy NSA,” the official told NDTV.

Mr Khanna, a 1978-batch officer of the Research and Analysis Wing Service (RAS), served as the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief from December 2014 to December 2016. Earlier, he was in charge of the operations desk at the agency and is recognised for his expertise in Pakistan and counter-terrorism.

Appointed as deputy NSA in January 2018, Mr Khanna previously led the Technology and Intelligence (T&I) section.

Special Director Ravichandran in the Intelligence Bureau has been appointed deputy NSA.  

Mr Ravichandran, a 1990 batch officer, is currently serving as Special Director, Intelligence Bureau, looking after South India. He was to retire in August 2024.

The other deputy NSA is Pankaj Singh, who was appointed for the post in January 2023 for two years.

Recently Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, was appointed as Foreign Secretary. He will succeed Vinay Kwatra, who is likely to be appointed as India’s ambassador to the US.

Jawed Ashraf, Indian ambassador in Paris, is expected to succeed Misri as Deputy NSA.

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), overseen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, operates with NSA Ajit Doval as its secretary, serves as the apex body for all matters concerning internal and external security.