National Defence College, NDC, is a pioneering institute of its type in Asia. The basic 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 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.Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, inaugurated the National Defence College (NDC) on April 27, 1960.
The College, initially modelled on the Imperial Defence College, London, has now evolved into an institution that seeks to comprehend and interpret the dynamics of India's security strategy in a world in transition.
In July 1958, the Ministry of Defence accepted the need for starting broad-based training within the country, for senior decision-makers, on matters related to national security. They recognised that such training would be more useful if it extended beyond a narrow definition of defence matters and covered the many diverse subjects related to national security. The Parliament Estimates Committee, attached to the Ministry of Defence, established the feasibility of setting up a college for imparting such training, in India, on the pattern existing in other countries with advanced military capabilities.
On May 6, 1959, the Cabinet Defence Committee approved the proposal for establishing the National Defence College. The Defence Minister issued formal orders, on September 15, 1959, conveying the sanction of the President of India for setting up of a National Defence College (NDC) in India for preparing senior service and civil officers for assuming higher responsibilities in the planning and management of national strategy and security. In July 1959, Lt General K Bahadur Singh was appointed the first Commandant of the College. By the end of the year, he had formulated detailed plans including the aim and the charter of NDC as well as the scope of studies at the College. The Chiefs’ of Staff cleared these on December 25, 1959.
On April 14, 1960, the Ministry of Defence, laid down the following aim for the College:-"The NDC will provide joint training and instruction to senior service and civil officers and will be under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. The study at the College will relate to strategic, economic, scientific, political and industrial aspects of national defence."
Based on the aim, the scope of study was planned to include an examination of internal and external threats to the security of India as well as possible trends for the next ten years. Studies would include analysis of diverse factors such as foreign policies of other nations, conflicts over vital economic interests or territorial claims and factional, communal or political differences. Members of the course would also analyse formulation of national strategy for various contingencies up to and including the outbreak of war. Based on these guidelines, the first Course at NDC commenced on April 27, 1960.The National Defence College is located in Delhi, the capital of India. The institution endeavours to provide an academic and professional setting that is conducive to higher learning and mental stimulation. As a pre-eminent joint military educational institution of the Defence Forces, it explores every domain of National Security. Its multifaceted core curriculum sharpens the awareness of participants on National Security Strategy in a changing world, and broadens their understanding of politics of policies and principles they can apply as they progress in their respective professions.
The curriculum is designed to promote a spirit of co-operation and understanding that is critical to any combined endeavour. A full spectrum of activities is designed to offer the course members a variety of rewarding experiences. The guest speakers are encouraged to present their views in an environment of academic freedom and responsible intellectual enquiry. Course members have the opportunity for closer interactions with the visitors through questions and answer sessions and luncheons.The best of Indian customs and culture are emphasised at the College. At the same, its international flavour is one of its strengths.
The College conducts a 47-week National Security and Strategic Studies Course, every year. The course commences in the first week of January and terminates in the first week of December. It is divided into seven studies, spread over two terms, with a mid-Course break of two weeks duration from end May to mid June. Since 2006 the college has been formally affiliated with Madras University for the award of M Phil Degree in ‘Defence and Strategic Studies.’Presentation by guest speakers and panelists, including reputed public officials and scholars, constitute the main component of the course curriculum. The college officers an assurance that their presentations will be held in confidence so that these guests may speak candidly. This assurance derives from a policy of non-attribution that is morally binding on all who attend : without the express opinion of the speaker, nothing he or she says will be attributed to that speaker directly or indirectly in the presence of anyone who was not authorised to attend the lecture.