In a unique development, Haryana Government has agreed to provide 200 acres of land in Binola Village Gurgoan for setting up India's very first defence university named Indian National Defence University (INDU). This move is taken into similar lines of universities of Wahington DC and Beijing. The institute will be one of a kind to display multi-disciplinary centre of brilliance on education and research on national security issues.
This institute will be established by an Act of Parliament. Also, all defence institutes which are existing or are about to come up in future are proposed to get affiliated to INDU and to follow its guidelines.
The confirmation of the land came out in open by none other than Union Minister of State for Defence Production. Rao Inderjit Singh. The minister stated that, "In a letter, Haryana chief secretary Dharambir has offered to acquire 200 acres of land in Binola, about 300 kms from the main city of Gurguan just off NH-8. I have been given to understand the land would cost the MoD about Rs. 200 crore".
He further added that the expenditure would be higher in the present context for INDU. As of now the matter would certainly move to the Cabinet Committee (Security) approval.
This committee had been set up on July 23, 2001 to examine the establishment of a National Defence University in India on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) Report on "Reforming the National Security System".
The committee had also recommended that the INDU President to be a serving three-star officer from the armed services. The Vice-President of the INDU is expected to be an officer from the Foreign Service.
Moreover, INDU will work towards building recognition and harmony by awarding degrees, short-term diploma's and credits for courses undertaken by serving personnel from the armed forces, military forces and officers from civil services and agencies.