>MichaelMaggs at 11:39, 23 September 2021

2021-09-23T11:39:37Z

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{{Short description|Indian government advisory group}}
The '''China Study Group''' (CSG) of the [[Government of India]] is an informal official group set up for advising the government on its China policy. It is a confidential body made up of inter-ministerial secretary-level officials.{{Efn|Not to be confused with the formation of the 1969 China Study Group, "comprising an informal group of scholars from universities and think-tanks". The group was responsible for India's first China journal, ''China Report''. The group expanded into the [[Institute of Chinese Studies]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Alamgir|first=Jalal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cOuSAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA88&dq=%22china+study+group%22+india#q=%22china%20study%20group%22%20india|title=India's Open-Economy Policy: Globalism, Rivalry, Continuity|date=2008-11-07|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-97057-4|location=|pages=88|language=en}}</ref> Giri Deshingkar was one of the founders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Giri Deshingkar Memorial Lecture|url=https://www.icsin.org/giri-deshingkar-memorial-lecture|url-status=live|access-date=22 September 2021|website=Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi}}</ref>|name=|group=}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Dutta|first=Amrita Nayak|date=2020-07-18|title=China Study Group, the elite Indian govt body that guides policy on ties with Beijing|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/china-study-group-the-elite-indian-govt-body-that-guides-policy-on-ties-with-beijing/463078/|access-date=2020-07-24|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Sawhney|first1=Pravin|last2=Wahab|first2=Ghazala|date=2019-05-10|title=Breathing Fire: China has always kept India on tenterhooks|url=http://forceindia.net/breathing-fire/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-24|website=|language=en-US}}</ref> Set up by the [[Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs]] under the [[Indira Gandhi]] government in November 1975, it was first headed by diplomat [[K. R. Narayanan|K.R. Narayanan]] (later [[President of India]]).<ref name=":0" /> It has been under the charge of civil servants such as [[Brajesh Mishra]] and [[Ajit Doval]].<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
[[Shivshankar Menon]] wrote in his book "Choices":<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Subramanian|first1=Nirupama|last2=Kaushik|first2=Krishn|date=2020-09-20|title=Month before standoff, China blocked 5 patrol points in Depsang|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/month-before-standoff-china-blocked-5-patrol-points-in-depsang-6602896/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
{{Quote|text=In 1976, on the basis of the much better information regarding the border available to India, the Cabinet Committee for Political Affairs established the China Study Group under the foreign secretary to recommend revised patrolling limits, rules of engagement, and the pattern of Indian presence along the border with China|author=|title=|source=}}

China Study Group has a key structural role in the ongoing [[2020 China–India skirmishes]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=2020-07-16|title=Apex China Study Group reviews East Ladakh: Key stand-off points record withdrawal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/forward-momentum-in-india-china-commanders-meeting/story-osXRt1KIOyZHZDramvns7I.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

[[Patrolling Points]] (PPs) for Indian troops along the China–India border were defined by the China Study Group in the 1970s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Sushant|date=2020-07-13|title=Patrolling Points: What do these markers on the LAC signify?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-do-patrolling-points-pps-on-lac-signify-6496840/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2020-07-09|title=India-China LAC Standoff: Know what are patrolling points and what do they signify|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/india-china-lac-standoff-know-what-are-patrolling-points-and-what-do-they-signify/2018462/|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Members ==
In 2020, the CSG was headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. CSG members include:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sagar|first=Pradip R|date=15 July 2020|title=Govt's China Study Group set to discuss future course of action on eastern Ladakh|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/07/15/govts-china-study-group-set-to-discuss-future-course-of-action-on-eastern-ladakh.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-24|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>

* [[Cabinet Secretary (India)|Cabinet Secretary]]
* [[Foreign Secretary of India|Foreign Secretary]]
* [[Home Secretary of India|Home Secretary]]
* [[Defence Secretary (India)|Defence Secretary]]
* [[Vice Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Army Staff]]
* [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]
* [[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Air Staff]]
* [[Director of the Intelligence Bureau]]
* [[Research and Analysis Wing|Director of R&AW]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}{{India-gov-stub}}
[[Category:China–India relations]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Government agencies of India]]

China Study Group - Revision history

>MichaelMaggs at 11:39, 23 September 2021