Centre for Defence Policy And Research on JNU campus soon

NEW DELHI: After pitching for placing a tank on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, authorities there are now planning to set up a ‘Centre for Defence Policy and Research’ within the varsity premises.

ET has reliably learnt that the centre will be developed on the lines of the Centre of Study for Social Systems, which is involved in teaching and research activities related to gender, tribal and Dalit affairs.

“We have centres and faculty members undertaking research on policies related to tribal affairs, but the university has nothing to offer when it comes to defence policy and strategy,” a faculty member privy to the development said.

Six prominent defence institutes, including the National Defence Academy, are affiliated to JNU that has been awarding degrees in Bachelors of Science and Arts to outgoing cadets since 1976. The centre would help strengthen the varsity’s ties with a strong alumni of officers and experts in the forces, insiders said.

Other institutes affiliated to JNU are Army Cadet College, Dehradun; College of Military Engineering in Pune; Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering in Secunderabad; Military College of Telecommunication Engineering in Mhow; and the Naval College of Engineering in Lonavala.

JNU is also looking to set up a ‘defence’ alumni association to strengthen this base. “There is a network of at least 4,20,000 officers that are part of JNU alumni. Many officers want this alumni association,” the faculty member added. Major General (retd) GD Bakshi and ex-General VK Singh are part of the alumni and will help set up the centre. Both Singh and Bakshi were present at the first celebration of Kargil Vijay Diwas on the campus on July 23, organised by the JNU administration and Veterans India.