Edu-leaders

On May 13, the government accorded “in-principle” approval for the setting up of an autonomous defence university. The Union Cabinet sanctioned Rs 2.95 billion for establishing the Indian National Defence University (INDU) in Gurgaon. The aim is to help synergise and craft strategic planning and analysis keeping in view the country’s geopolitical objectives and national security. Minister of State for Defence Production, Rao Inderjit Singh believes that this move will make Gurgaon a hub of academic, strategic and professional expertise in defence preparedness, opening up employment avenues.

The decision was taken at a cabinet committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Cabinet also approved the acquisition of 200 acres of land at Binola in Gurgaon for the proposed site of INDU at an estimated cost of Rs 1 billion. “INDU will undertake long term defence and strategic studies and create synergy between academic community and government. It will educate national security leaders on aspects of security strategy, military strategy, information strategy and technology strategy through teaching and research,” the statement said. “It will also promote policy —oriented research on all aspects relating to national security as an input to strategic national policy making.” The approval comes almost a decade after a group of ministers in 2001 had recommended INDU’s creation for a synergy between academicians and government on defence and strategic issues. The US, China and several other countries already have institutions like INDU for a robust strategic thinking and research culture between academia and government.