The National Defence College (NDC), as part its Diamond Jubilee celebrations will organise a two-day Webinar on 05-06 Nov 20. The theme for this year is ‘India’s National Security- a Decade Ahead’.

NDC is one of the leading institutions of the world dedicated to intellectual development and strategic training of select senior officers of Armed Forces and Civil Services of India and those of foreign countries. The first NDC course was held in 1960 with 21 participants.  In the Diamond Jubilee Year NDC has 100 participants; 75 from India and 25 from friendly countries.

It is the most prestigious program for higher management both, in Armed Forces and Civil Services.  A number of illustrious alumni from NDC have held significant appointments which include the present CDS, two Governors, present National Security Advisor, two Election Commissioners, 30 Indian Service Chiefs, over 20 Ambassadors, 4 Defence Secretaries and 5 Foreign Secretaries besides a number of others.

A number of foreign alumni have also achieved significant positions in their respective countries which include 74 Service Chiefs of their Armed Forces. The following very prominent alumni were Heads of States:

    1. His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, The King of Bhutan

    2. Lt Gen Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Former President, Bangladesh

    3. Lt Gen Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo, Former Head of State, Ghana

NDC is among the most sought after programme of its kind of the world. To cater to continuous demand for more seats from other countries, Ministry of Defence has decided to increase capacity of NDC from 100 to 110 in 2021 and to 120 in 2022. Necessary infrastructure in this regard is being created. Also additional seats are to be provided to Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh apart from new seats to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Philippines, Indonesia and Maldives.

About NDC

The National Defence College (NDC) was inaugurated on April 27, 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India. NDC is a pioneering institute of its type in Asia. The role of the college has remained largely unchanged since 1959, when the President of India sanctioned "the setting up of a National Defence College for providing instruction to senior service and civil service officers in the wider aspects of higher direction and strategy of warfare". Today, NDC continues to provide future decision-makers with the necessary skills and background for filling senior positions in national security and associated fields.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)