On 5 Aug, 2016, the Draft Indian National University Bill, 2015 went online on MyGov.in portal and MoD website for six weeks for public consultations. This made the concept of Indian National Defence University (INDU) to be a reality soon. The Bill proposes to establish a world class fully autonomous institution of National Importance under Ministry of Defence.
Here are a few things that you need to know about the bill that proposes a new military academy of India, INDU:
- The idea of a National Defence University was first conceived in 1967. It was later recommended by Kargil Review Committee and Group of Ministers in 2000.
- Land for setting up of the Defence University was acquired at Binola in Gurgaon in September 2012. Part infrastructure development has commenced on the acquired land in December 2015.
- The University will be a teaching and affiliating University for the existing training institutions of the three Services.
- The university will offer higher education in National Security Studies, Defence Management and Defence Technology and promote policy oriented research on all aspects relating to national security, both internal and external.
- Four new institutions/colleges will be set up as the INDU’s constituent colleges. These four colleges will go by the name – School of National Security Studies, School of Defence Technology, School of Defence Management and Centre for Distance and Open Learning (with regional centres of distance learning) and will be set up at the University’s main campus.
- Open and Distance Learning Programmes for Service personnel deployed in far flung area has also been considered.
- As is the case in existing Defence Universities across the world, Indian National Defence University is proposed to be governed by its own norms and will inculcate and promote coordination and interaction between the Armed Forces and other Government Agencies including friendly foreign countries.
- While the Defence Minister will be the proposed university’s Chancellor, the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee will be the pro-chancellor and the President will act as a Visitor to the University.
- The whole project will be implemented in three phases spread over a period of 10 years and the total estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 2,072 crore.
- The INDU will provide for holistic study of defence and strategic security challenges and 66% of students would be from the Armed Forces, whereas 33% of students would be drawn from other government agencies, police and civilian.
- The teaching faculty will comprise of both military personnel and civilians in the ratio of 1:1.
- INDU will undertake long term defence and strategic studies and create synergy between the academic community and government functionaries. It would integrate Academic community, Armed Forces, Para Military Forces, Intelligence Agencies & Bureaucracy in Strategic Policy Making and Related issues.
- The University is being planned on the lines of the IITs and the IIMs and the existing Defence Institutions like National Defence College (NDC) New Delhi, Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington, College of Defence Management (CDM) Secunderabad and National Defence Academy (NDA) Khadakwasla would be affiliated to INDU.
- The Bill proposes to bring these four institutions under the admit of Indian National Defence University, though these institutions’ autonomy (for the award of degrees and diplomas) and powers will remain same, it adds.
- INDU will inculcate and promote coordination and interaction not just between the three Armed Services, but also between other agencies of the Government, the Civil Bureaucracy, Para Military Forces, Cental Armed Police Forces, Intelligence Servies, Diplomats, Academicians, Strategic Planners, University Students and officers from Friendly Foreign Countries.
- The comments and suggestions from the public on the draft Bill will be collated and reviewed at the Ministry of Defence following which the process for seeking approval of the Cabinet will be initiated and the Bill will be tabled in the Parliament for enactment.
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The Draft Bill is available at MyGov.in portal as well as Defence Ministry website. The government has opened submission of suggestions till August 21, 2016, and the inputs (comments and suggestions) will be reviewed before the Cabinet approves the Bill.
You can also give your inputs and suggestions for INDU, here.
