Importance of Defense Universities

Source-This post on Importance of Defense Universities has been created based on the article “It is time to operationalise the Indian Defence University” published in “The Hindu” on 5 May 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3- Various Security Forces and Agencies.

Context – The article highlights the importance of defense universities in advancing academic rigor and strategic thinking within the armed forces. It gives the example of countries like Pakistan and China, which have established multiple universities for their armed forces, while expressing concern over the absence of an Indian Defense University (IDU). Importance of Defense Universities

What has been the history behind the setting up of the Indian Defense University (IDU)?

1) The proposal for establishing an IDU in India dates back to 1967 when the Chiefs of Staff Committee first proposed the idea.

2) In 1982, a Study Group formed by the COSC emphasized the necessity of an apex educational institution for the armed forces.

3) After the Kargil conflict in 1999, a committee led by Dr. K. Subrahmanyam recommended setting up the IDU.This has got the ‘in-principle’ approval in 2010. However, after that, progress has been very slow.

What is the shortcoming of current defence training institutions in India?

There are several world-class training and education institutions run by India’s armed forces providing an ecosystem of professional training. However, there are certain loopholes:

1) They don’t have a comprehensive and integrated Professional Military Education framework.

2) They don’t have a multi-disciplinary approach to strategic thinking.

3) According to the author, existing affiliations with universities for degree courses are not an optimal solution.

4) According to the author, establishment of the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) alone will not address the existing shortcomings because the two institutions, that is RRU and IDU have different objectives and curricula.
The RRU Act doesn’t mention education related to ‘defense’ in its goals, and its curriculum isn’t solely focused on military needs for managing war and executing plans.

What is the significance of setting up Indian Defense University (IDU)?

1) Preparing Military Officers for Modern Warfare -It will equip military officers to cope with the changing dynamic and chaotic nature of modern warfare. For ex-In Europe and West Asia, the unpredictable nature of warfare means military officers must achieve results despite unclear information and rapidly changing situations.

2) Enhancing Strategic Thinking– These institutions will foster academic rigor and enhance strategic thinking within the armed forces.

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3) Strengthening India’s Military Education System -The IDU would address the issues in India’s PME system by offering a central military learning institution with a skilled faculty, including academics and current or retired military and civil officers.

4) Broadening curricula– The university’s curriculum would include various relevant subjects in national security and defense, covering both sciences and humanities.

5) Recognizing the Importance of Professional Military Education-Developed nations like the USA have acknowledged the significance of a well-constructed Professional Military Education (PME) continuum that augments the abilities of military officers over long career spans.

There is an urgent need to operationalize the IDU to bolster defense preparedness, strategic culture, and inter-service integration.

Question for practice

How can operationalization of IDU help in addressing weakness of current defence training institutions in India?