be invited to meetings when needed.

NSA Doval will call the meetings of the group and the cabinet secretary is to coordinate with ministries and states for the implementation of its decisions.

"It's nothing new. This group was functioning in previous UPA government too. It was recommended by the committee which was set up to look into lapses during Kargil," a senior functionary of the government said.

The revival of the policy group just months before the national election has raised questions, even within the government. "The intent of the government to revive SPG at the fag end of its tenure is not clear," a senior bureaucrat confessed.

A retired bureaucrat said, "NSA is all-time powerful now and too much centralised power in one command centre is not very healthy in ademocracy."

The reconstituted policy group also places the National Security Adviser at the top of the country's security strategy set-up as Mr Doval was also recently appointed chairman of the defence planning committee, a new strategic think tank.

"The NSA is tasked with regularly advising the PM on internal and external threats and overseeing strategic and sensitive issues on behalf of the Prime Minister. With these changes, the government has been able to make him all powerful," adds a senior bureaucrat.