(General Studies III – Internal Security section – Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas – Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism. Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.)
- The concept of the Indian Defence University (IDU) aims to enhance strategic thinking and academic rigor within India’s armed forces.
- Despite initial proposals dating back to 1967, progress has been slow, with ‘in principle’ approval granted in 2010.
Need for IDU –
- The nature of warfare, though constant, requires evolving military education to address dynamic security challenges.
- Professional Military Education (PME) is crucial for empowering officers to handle complex scenarios with limited initial information.
- Nations like Pakistan and China have established multiple defence universities, fostering strategic thinking and integration within their armed forces.
- The U.S. model, reformed under the Goldwater-Nichols Act and Ike Skelton’s recommendations, offers valuable parallels for India’s theatreisation aims.
- India’s armed forces have numerous training institutions, but they lack an integrated PME framework and multi-disciplinary strategic approach.
- Existing affiliations with universities for degree courses do not adequately address the unique requirements of military education.
Benefits of IDU –
- Enhanced Strategic Thinking: Develops a cadre of military leaders with advanced strategic and analytical skills to address complex security challenges.
- Inter-Service Integration: Promotes jointness among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, fostering better coordination and interoperability.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Offers a diverse curriculum covering national security, defence management, technology, international relations, and ethics, integrating sciences and humanities.
- Research and Innovation: Encourages cutting-edge research in defence technologies and strategies, enhancing India’s military capabilities and self-reliance.
- Global Collaboration: Facilitates international partnerships and exchanges, allowing Indian officers to benefit from global best practices and insights.
- It would offer a curriculum encompassing sciences and humanities relevant to national security and defence, supported by a well-qualified faculty of academicians and military officers.
| Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) | Indian Defence University (IDU) | |
| Establishment | – Established in 2020 under the Rashtriya Raksha University Act, 2020 | – Proposed since 1967, with ‘in principle’ approval in 2010 |
| Primary Focus | – Internal security, law enforcement, and public safety | – Military education, strategic studies, and national defence |
| Target Audience | – Police, paramilitary forces, intelligence agencies, and civilians | – Armed forces personnel, including officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force |
| Scope | – Domestic security and law enforcement training | – National and international military and defence education |
| Purpose | – To enhance capabilities in internal security and law enforcement | – To develop strategic military leadership and enhance national defence capabilities |
Establishing the IDU is crucial for defence preparedness, fostering a strategic culture, promoting inter-service integration and for bolstering India’s security framework. By integrating strategic thinking, inter-service coordination, and advanced military education, the IDU will address the evolving nature of warfare and enhance national defence capabilities.
