The government is considering the establishment of a council of national security research and studies to promote and coordinate defence and strategic studies in the country.
The Union HRD ministry is understood to have held talks with various stakeholders for the establishment of the council which will be the first of its kind in the country. It is understood that the HRD ministry is preparing a Cabinet note to seek the nod of the council of ministers. A round of consultations is expected between the HRD ministry, ministry of defence and the ministry of home affairs soon. Sources stated that the aim is to promote research and studies at post-graduate and doctoral levels in national security studies and analysis.
Once established, the council is expected to promote and coordinate defence and strategic studies in the country. The council is expected to be mandated with six areas of studies, India’s national security, challenges to its security, international security and strategic landscape, military power and its role in national security, security with nuclear weapons, and terrorism and societal violence. The council is also expected to standardise the existing syllabus of security and defence studies in the country.
An expert committee, set up by the HRD ministry had earlier this year recommended setting up autonomous Centres of National Security Studies.
Currently, there are 29 universities in the country where defence studies as a subject is being taught either at college or in university departments. In addition, 137 colleges associated with 27 other universities also offer courses at the under-graduate level.