The Centre has decided to create a Defence Planning Committee chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to drive the country’s military and security strategy, draft capability development plans and handle equipment acquisitions, the Hindustan Times reported citing a Ministry of Defence notification.

The committee will be a permanent body which will comprise, apart from Doval, the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs and the defence, expenditure and foreign secretaries. It will prepare draft reports on “national security strategy, international defence engagement strategy, a roadmap to build a defence manufacturing ecosystem, strategy to boost defence exports, and priority capability development plans”, and submit these to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

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The committee will prepare India’s military doctrines and define Indian military objectives for the future. The panel is expected to meet soon after Doval returns from Germany on April 21.

The panel will have four sub-committees, on Policy and Strategy, Plans and Capability Development, Defence Diplomacy, and Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem. The membership of these sub-committees is yet to be finalised, The Indian Express reported.