Background

About 30 years ago, in 1984, perceiving the need for research and analysis of subjects relating to national security and for promoting interest among the public, a few retired senior service and civil officials, academicians and industrialists had formed the National Security Forum in collaboration with the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies of the University of Pune. The brain storming sessions conducted by the Forum attracted many renowned experts, academicians and eminent persons not only from within the country but also from abroad. It was then decided to institutionalise the activities. The National Security Forum was then transformed into the Centre for Advanced Strategic Studies (CASS) and was registered as a Society on 21st September, 1992 under the Societys Registration Act, 1860 and as a Public Charitable Trust on 28th October, 1992 under the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act of 1950. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India also accorded recognition to the Centre as a Scientific and Industrial Research Institution.

The CASS intends to provide a platform to study not only the security related aspects but also other areas and sectors, which may appear to be non-strategic in nature, but need to be considered for sustaining a strategic doctrine. Judging from this standpoint, national security concerns encompass the entire gamut of policy options and doctrines of development, diplomacy and defence. The main aim of the Centre is to provide conceptual, intellectual, technical and strategic considerations, which are necessary for formulation of national policies in the changing global, regional and national environment. Thus, Indias goals and interests need to be considered beyond the narrow confines of the South Asian Security. It is therefore essential that both strategic and non-strategic dimensions are researched and pursued vigorously to provide useful data, information and options to the policy-makers. While doing this, the Centre also strives to spread public awareness through seminars and lectures, which are well supported by the print and electronic media.