National SecurityClass 9 Defence Studies Chapter 1 Notes – Maharashtra Board

Summary: National Security

Security is a basic need of every society. Just as animals have natural ways to defend themselves, people and countries too need protection. Security brings peace and stability and saves us from uncertainty.

A country must guard its sovereignty, its values, its land, the life of its citizens and its natural and material wealth. All the defence steps taken to protect a country's nationhood and sovereignty together make up national security.

India has faced many invasions in history, mostly through the north-west. Rulers such as the Mauryas, the Guptas and the Marathas built defence systems and trained people to resist outside attacks.

A nation is a people bound by a feeling of unity; it becomes a nation-state when it has territory, population and sovereignty. Nationalism is the love people feel for their country. National interest is based on core values — for India these are written in the Preamble to the Constitution.

National power is a country's ability to defend itself and influence others to protect its interests. It comes from material elements (coal, iron, minerals, water, science and technology) and non-material ones (people's morale and commitment). National security means using this power to protect core values against internal and external threats, with readiness even in peacetime.

Key points to remember

• Security gives peace and stability and removes uncertainty
• Security applies to individuals, society and the country
• National security = all defence steps that protect nationhood and sovereignty
• India faced many invasions, mostly from the north-west
• Mauryas, Guptas and Marathas built defence systems against outside attack
• Nation-state = territory + population + sovereignty
• India is a nation-state with great diversity — race, religion, language, region, economy
• India's core values (Preamble): democracy, socialism, secularism, republic, federal system, equality
• National power has material elements (resources, industry, space and nuclear science) and non-material elements (morale, commitment)
• Threats can be internal or external; military readiness in peacetime is part of national security

National Security – Notes

1. What is security?

• Every society needs security. Even animals get some means of self-defence from nature — claws, horns, speed or shells. Humans too need to protect themselves.
• Security is linked to the individual, to society and to the whole country.
• When people feel safe there is peace and stability; security removes fear of the unknown.
• Countries face challenges from others and must respond to them. They must protect their sovereignty (the right to decide for themselves), their values and their land.
• Protecting the country's borders, the daily life of citizens and its natural and material resources means protecting the nation itself. The sum of all defence measures used for this purpose is called national security.

2. Lessons from India's history

• From ancient times India has seen many invasions, especially through the north-west passes.
• In those days India was divided into many states ruled by different kings.
• Strong rulers such as the Mauryas, the Guptas and the Marathas trained their people to fight outside aggression.
• They set up defence systems to protect and expand their kingdoms and took steps to guard their territory.
• Example for the activities: Alexander of Macedonia invaded north-west India; King Porus fought him at the battle of the Jhelum (Hydaspes) and is remembered for his courage and self-respect.

3. Nation, nation-state and nationalism

• Nation: a group of people living on a shared land, who may have a common race, religion or language, and who feel united. This feeling of oneness makes them a nation.
• Nation-state: a nation becomes a nation-state when it has three things — territory, population and sovereignty.
• A nation-state can be very diverse. India has differences of race, religion, language, region and economy, yet it is one nation-state.
• Nationalism: the feelings and emotions people have for their country, shown in many ways. It grows out of the idea of the nation itself.
• Indian nationalism means a united India: whatever our religion, language or culture, we are all Indians.

4. National interest and national power

• National interest is understood through a nation's core values. These depend on its geography, size and its political, social, cultural and economic features.
• India's core values are found in the Preamble to the Constitution: democracy, socialism, secularism, a republic, a federal system and equality. They help us understand India's history, society, economy and form of government.
• National power is the means to protect these values and interests. It is a country's capacity to defend itself, and also its ability to influence other countries to protect its own interests.
• Every nation, from ancient times, has tried to gain and keep power; a strong nation can protect its interests better. Nations also seek cooperation with others for the same reason.
• Material elements: natural resources such as coal, iron and steel, minerals and water, which build industrial strength. India's progress in space research and nuclear science also adds to its power.
• Non-material elements: the mind-set and morale of the people and their commitment to the nation.

5. National security

• Steps taken to protect oneself are called security.
• Every country faces two kinds of challenges: internal (from inside, such as unrest or terrorism) and external (from other countries, such as aggression on the border).
• National security means dealing with both kinds of threat.
• Attacks from outside are not a daily event, yet the country must stay militarily prepared in peacetime. The defence set-up built in peacetime for the nation's protection is national security.
• In short, national security is the protection of a nation's core values by using its national power.
• Besides military defence, a country also takes preventive steps for its social, cultural, economic and political security.

Ideas to remember

Key terms

National Security – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 20 cards.

National Security – MCQ Quiz

15 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study National Security

⏱ About 30 minutes

1. Understand (10 min)
   Read what security and national security mean and why India, after many invasions in its history, must stay ready even in peacetime.
2. Remember (10 min)
   Learn the six linked ideas in order: nation → nation-state → nationalism → national interest → national power → national security, with one example each.
3. Practise (10 min)
   Answer the 'Try it yourself' questions, take the quiz and play 🎮 Play.