Rashtriya Raksha University gets approval to set up centre for studying Chinese army

The Centre has given its nod to government-run Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) for setting up a study centre on China's People's Liberation Army's (PLA). The Gandhinagar-based University on internal security is in the process of hiring the Centre's head, preferably from the Indian Army, having knowledge of Mandarin, officials said.

"The head is expected to play a leadership role and oversee the establishment of the study centre that includes research and study on ...," reads the order issued by RRU. Further, the PLA study centre will have a research officer and faculty to undertake analysis on the Chinese Army, deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China border.

RRU was set up in 2010 by the Gujarat government when PM Narendra Modi was the state chief minister. It was upgraded to a national university, through the Rashtriya Raksha University Act, passed by Parliament in October 2020, under the MHA. The study centre is expected to carry out interdisciplinary research in areas like China, PLA and collaborate with external agencies, institutions within India and abroad, added officials.


In 2020, military standoffs and skirmishes between the Chinese and Indian forces were reported at various locations along the borders, including the Pangong Lake and Galwan in Ladakh.