Educating our security chieftains

Source: The post is based on the article “Educating our security chieftains” published in Business Standard on 6^th October 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Issues Related with Education

Relevance: concerns with Professional Military Education (PME) in India

News: In May 2013, the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, laid the foundation stone of the Indian National Defence University (INDU) in Binola, Gurugram.

What was the purpose of establishing the university?

The Indian National Defence University (INDU) was planned to primarily focus on national security subjects, as recommended by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.

It aimed to provide education in national security studies for both military and civilian personnel, with a structure similar to Indian Institutes of Management and Technology.

INDU was intended to be led by a serving three-star general from the army, navy, or air force, with a student composition of two-thirds military and the rest from government, police, and civilians.

However, despite being proposed in 2013, INDU has not been established yet, highlighting the deficiency of institutions for “professional military education” (PME) in India.

How is India’s professional military education (PME) system compare to those of other countries?

India’s PME system falls behind nations like the US, UK, Russia, China, and even Pakistan, all of which have made substantial investments in specialized PME institutions.

According to the US, PME emphasizes cognitive learning, diverse perspectives, critical analysis, and innovative thinking for complex problems.

However, India’s military PME predominantly concentrates on tactical aspects throughout professional development, lacking a focus on strategic studies.

What are the concerns with India’s professional military education (PME)?

Currently, India’s PME system is primarily overseen by the military, with minimal participation from civilian committees, leading to a focus on “training” rather than “education.”

Many officers completing courses in India have reported that PMEs emphasizes more on social activities rather than imparting essential elements of statecraft and national security.

Ultimately, this limited focus on strategic education hampers their ability to provide crucial strategic advice during national security crises.

Moreover, a study by US military officers noted that the Indian course at DSSC in Wellington was not as competitive as the equivalent courses in Pakistan.

What steps have been taken by the current government to reform military education?

The current government asserts that the military environment has changed significantly, aligning with the PM’s agenda of “transform, reform, and perform.”

Further, modern militaries prioritize providing comprehensive education to their officers for a better understanding of broader national security issues.

Consequently, around 30 Indian military officers are sent abroad each year to attend staff college courses with foreign armies to acquire modern education.

What can be the way ahead?

Indian PME lacks creativity and promotes operational stereotypes. It also does not foster group discussions or prepare officers for future senior positions.

Hence, the PME in India should be restructured to expand officers’ cognitive space and facilitate their understanding of macro issues.