Publicly, the Indian government has denied reports of rising Chinese assertiveness against India. But NDTV has learnt that the government's highest policy making group on China is meeting on Thursday to take stock of the situation.

The tension has been building since the 6th of August, when, for the first time in several years, two Chinese Sukhoi planes intruded into Indian air space in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The timing was significant - just a day before India-China talks on the boundary issue were being held in New Delhi.

In mid-August, Chinese soldiers crossed 40 kilometres inside Indian territory, in eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

And on the 7th of this month, Chinese soldiers on horseback crossed into Uttarakhand, 3 kilometres inside Indian territory.

Alarmed by increasing border violations and aggressive signal, National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan has convened a meeting of the China Study Group on Thursday.  Narayanan will meet the Cabinet Secretary and secretaries of the defence, home and external affairs ministries. The chiefs of the three armed forces and the Intelligence Bureau will also help draft India's response.