China Study Group
{{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.{{Cite book|last=Alamgir|first=Jalal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cOuSAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22china+study+group%22+india&pg=PA88|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}} Giri Deshingkar was one of the founders.{{Cite web|title=Giri Deshingkar Memorial Lecture|url=https://www.icsin.org/giri-deshingkar-memorial-lecture|access-date=22 September 2021|website=Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi}}|name=|group=}}{{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}}{{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/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-24|website=|language=en-US}} 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 (later President of India). It has been under the charge of civil servants such as Brajesh Mishra and Ajit Doval.
History
Shivshankar Menon wrote in his book "Choices":{{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/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}
{{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.{{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|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}
Patrolling Points (PPs) for Indian troops along the China–India border were defined by the China Study Group in the 1970s.{{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/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{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}}
Members
In 2020, the CSG was headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. CSG members include:{{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|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-24|website=The Week|language=en}}
Notes
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