National Defence College (India): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Premier Academic Institute}}
{{Short description|Premier Academic Institute}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox university
{{Infobox university
|name          = National Defence College
|name          = National Defence College
|image_name    = National Defence College (India) Logo.png
|image_name    = National Defence College (India) Logo.png
|image_size    =
|image_size    = 200px
|motto          = {{lang|sa|बुध्दिर्यस्य बलंतस्य}} {{small|([[Sanskrit]])}}
|motto          = {{lang|sa|बुध्दिर्यस्य बलंतस्य}} {{small|([[Sanskrit]])}}
|motto_lang    = Sanskrit
|motto_lang    = Sanskrit
|mottoeng      = ''Buddhiryasya Balamtasya (Wisdom is Strength)''  
|mottoeng      = ''Buddhiryasya Balamtasya (He who has wisdom has the strength)''  
|established    = 27 April 1960
|established    = {{start date and age|27 April 1960}}
|type          = [[Military academies in India|Defence Service]] Training Institute
|type          = [[Military academies in India|Defence Service]] Training Institute
|head_label    = [[Commandant of the National Defence College|Commandant]]
|head_label    = [[Commandant of the National Defence College|Commandant]]
|head          = [[Lieutenant General]] Manoj Kumar Mago, [[Yudh Seva Medal]], [[Sena Medal]]
|head          = [[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] Manish Kumar Gupta {{small|[[AVSM]]}} <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1115356140786571&set=a.295343042787889|title=Air Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta new Commandant of NDC|website=Ministry of Defence Facebook|access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref>
|city          = [[New Delhi]]
|city          = [[New Delhi]]
|state          =
|state          =
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|website        = [https://ndc.nic.in/ ndc.in]
|website        = [https://ndc.nic.in/ ndc.in]
||native_name=}}
||native_name=}}
[[File:Delegation of National Defence College of india in a meeting with Reuven Rivlin president of Israel (9910).jpg|350px|thumb|Delegation of National Defence College of India in a meeting with [[Reuven Rivlin]] president of Israel, August 2018 ]]
The '''National Defence College''', located in [[New Delhi]], is a [[staff college]] and the highest seat of strategic learning for [[Indian Armed Forces|Defence Service]] and [[Civil Services of India|Civil Service]] officers. This is a very prestigious course attended only by a few hand-picked defence officers of [[One-star rank#Indian one-star ranks|One-Star]] rank and civil servants of the rank of [[Joint secretary to the Government of India]]. Each year, approximately 25 officers from friendly foreign countries like the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE and others attend the course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ndc.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempOneCentrePhotoEightPara.aspx?MnId=E4V7r2xMyUSoZ6qCbsBlzA==&ParentID=hzyjMZSYn1kpMoClrxVSrw |title=College Comes into Being |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001533/http://ndc.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempOneCentrePhotoEightPara.aspx?MnId=E4V7r2xMyUSoZ6qCbsBlzA==&ParentID=hzyjMZSYn1kpMoClrxVSrw |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=18 June 2014 }}</ref>
The '''National Defence College''', located in [[New Delhi]], is the [[National security|defence service]] training institute and highest seat of strategic learning for officers of the [[Indian Armed Forces|Defence Service]] and the [[Civil Services of India|Civil Services]]. This is a very prestigious course attended only by a few hand-picked defence officers of [[One-star rank#Indian one-star ranks|One-Star]] rank and civil servants of the rank of [[Joint secretary to the Government of India]]. Each year, approximately 25 officers from friendly foreign countries like the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE and others attend the course.<ref>http://ndc.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempOneCentrePhotoEightPara.aspx?MnId=E4V7r2xMyUSoZ6qCbsBlzA==&ParentID=hzyjMZSYn1kpMoClrxVSrw {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}</ref>


This college provides strategic leadership to the Government of India in national and international security matters and also acts as a think tank on defence matters and holds a very important position in shaping up the Indian defence outlook.
This college provides strategic leadership to the Government of India in national and international security matters and also acts as a think tank on defence matters and holds a very important position in shaping up the Indian defence outlook.


==History==
==History==
After India's independence in 1947, senior officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force attended the [[Imperial Defence College]] (IDC) in the United Kingdom before being appointed to important commands. The vacancies at the IDC was only about two or three each year. In 1959, the [[Government of India]] announced that a college on the pattern of the IDC will set up in New Delhi. This would allow for a larger number of officers to be trained. [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Kanwar Bahadur Singh]], the Adjutant General at Army HQ was appointed the first Commandant of the college.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE TO BE SET UP IN DELHI |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JULY-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1959-09-30_112.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=30 September 1959}}</ref>
After India's independence in 1947, senior officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force attended the [[Imperial Defence College]] (IDC) in the United Kingdom before being appointed to important commands. The vacancies at the IDC was only about two or three each year. In 1959, the [[Government of India]] announced that a college on the pattern of the IDC will set up in New Delhi. This would allow for a larger number of officers to be trained. [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Kanwar Bahadur Singh]], the [[Adjutant-General (India)|Adjutant General]] at Army HQ was appointed the first Commandant of the college.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE TO BE SET UP IN DELHI |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JULY-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1959-09-30_112.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=30 September 1959}}</ref>


==Location==
==Location==
The College is located on [[Tees January Road|Tees January Marg]] of [[Lutyens' Delhi]], in a grand British-era building spread over acres of lush green lawns.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Building |url=https://ndc.nic.in/About/about-ndc/ndc-origin |website=ndc.nic.in |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> It is adjacent to the home where Mahatma Gandhi lived the last five months of his life, and the garden where he was assassinated - the [[Gandhi Smriti]]. Residential facilities for the officers are located in the central vista of Delhi, on Ashok Rajpath near India Gate.
The college is located on [[Tees January Road|Tees January Marg]] of [[Lutyens' Delhi]], in a grand British-era building spread over acres of lush green lawns. The building was built by [[Sir Sobha Singh]] as a mansion for Khan Saheb Tej Muhammad Khan of [[Badrashi]], [[North-West Frontier Province]]. From 1939 to 1947, the building served as an Army General Mess. From 1947 to 1960, it was the office and residence of the Deputy [[High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Building |url=https://ndc.nic.in/About/about-ndc/ndc-origin |website=ndc.nic.in |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=17 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717165804/https://ndc.nic.in/About/about-ndc/ndc-origin |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Commandant of NDC has a bungalow on the [[Akbar Road]] called NDC House.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nov 17 |first1=Raj Shekhar / TNN / Updated |title=Cops in tizzy over air marshal's nameplates {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/cops-in-tizzy-over-air-marshals-nameplates/articleshow/10762990.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
 
The college is adjacent to the home where Mahatma Gandhi lived the last five months of his life, and the garden where he was assassinated - the [[Gandhi Smriti]]. Residential facilities for the officers are located in the central vista of Delhi, on Ashok Rajpath near India Gate.
The Commandant of NDC has a bungalow at 16, [[Akbar Road]] called NDC House.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nov 17 |first1=Raj Shekhar / TNN / Updated |title=Cops in tizzy over air marshal's nameplates {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/cops-in-tizzy-over-air-marshals-nameplates/articleshow/10762990.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408134406/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/cops-in-tizzy-over-air-marshals-nameplates/articleshow/10762990.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Crest==
The crest of NDC has a lamp of knowledge surrounded by the wreath of green Ashoka tree leaves with the [[State Emblem of India]] superimposed and placed against the rich maroon backdrop of the Joint Services flag. The lamp has four flames representing the [[Indian Army]], the [[Indian Navy]], the [[Indian Air Force]] and the [[Civil Services of India]].


==Commandant==
==Commandant==
{{Main|Commandant of the National Defence College}}
{{Main|Commandant of the National Defence College}}
The NDC is headed by the Commandant who is the overall in-charge of all the functioning of the college including academics and administration. The Commandant of the college is an Officer of [[Three-star rank]]. The tenure of each Commandant is for 2 years which rotates between the [[Indian Army]], the [[Indian Navy]] and the [[Indian Air Force]].
The NDC is headed by the Commandant who is the overall in-charge of all the functioning of the college including academics and administration. The Commandant of the college is an Officer of [[Three-star rank]]. The tenure of each Commandant is for 2 years which rotates between the [[Indian Army]], the [[Indian Navy]] and the [[Indian Air Force]].
==Faculty and staff==
{{further|Category:Academic staff of the National Defence College, India}}
The Faculty of NDC was designed to be minimal. There are called Senior Directing Staff (SDS) and direct the students, rather than deliver lectures. The lectures are delivered by distinguished guest speakers. The SDS is drawn from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil services and are of [[two-star rank]]. Usually, there are 7 SDS ([[Indian Army|Army]] – 3, [[Indian Navy|Navy]] – 1, [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]] – 1, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] – 1 and [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]] – 1). Apart from these 7 SDS, the college regularly invites think tanks, ambassadors of different nations, business leaders, ministers from India and friendly countries, defence chiefs of friendly countries to give lectures in the college.<ref name="ndc.nic.in">{{cite web |url=http://ndc.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSevenCentrePhotoTwentyOnePara.aspx?MnId=xDUoPCzA2D5G/XZ6K4O+sA==&ParentID=IjaSQJyesLD3T70MTQax/w |title=NDC Faculty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126163345/http://ndc.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSevenCentrePhotoTwentyOnePara.aspx?MnId=xDUoPCzA2D5G/XZ6K4O+sA==&ParentID=IjaSQJyesLD3T70MTQax/w |archive-date=26 January 2016 |access-date=18 June 2014 }}</ref>
The administrative wing is headed by the Secretary, a [[one-star rank|one-star]] officer from the Indian Army and an alumnus of NDC. He is assisted by the Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster General (AA&QMG), an officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Other key staff include the Directing Staff (Coordination) (DS Coord) and Junior Directing Staff (Research & Reference) (JDS R&R). They are officers from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force on rotation. The DS (Coord) is of the rank of [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]]/[[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]] and the JDS (R&R) is of the rank of Commander/Wing Commander.<ref name="ndc.nic.in"/>


==Course==
==Course==
It conducts a 47-week National Security and Strategic Study course each year which commences in the first week of January each year and finishes in the first week of December. This course also involves extensive travel within and outside the country to visit Indian states and foreign countries where course members meet head of states and important decision makers to understand the political, social and strategic landscape of the state/country.
[[File:Delegation of National Defence College of india in a meeting with Reuven Rivlin president of Israel (9910).jpg|right|350px|thumb|Delegation of National Defence College of India in a meeting with [[Reuven Rivlin]] president of Israel, August 2018 ]]
The NDC conducts a 47-week National Security and Strategic Study course each year which commences in the first week of January each year and finishes in the first week of December. This course also involves extensive travel within and outside the country to visit Indian states and foreign countries where course members meet head of states and important decision makers to understand the political, social and strategic landscape of the state/country.
The entire course is divided in six subjects spread over two terms, as follows:<ref name="NDCPrivate">{{cite web |url=https://theprint.in/defence/in-a-first-executive-from-private-sector-enrolled-in-annual-national-defence-college-course/954090/ |title=In a first, executive from private sector enrolled in annual National Defence College course |author=Suchet Vir Singh |date=13 May 2022 |publisher=theprint.in (online) |access-date=1 September 2021  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513085000/https://theprint.in/defence/in-a-first-executive-from-private-sector-enrolled-in-annual-national-defence-college-course/954090/ |archive-date=13 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
The entire course is divided in six subjects spread over two terms, as follows:<ref name="NDCPrivate">{{cite web |url=https://theprint.in/defence/in-a-first-executive-from-private-sector-enrolled-in-annual-national-defence-college-course/954090/ |title=In a first, executive from private sector enrolled in annual National Defence College course |author=Suchet Vir Singh |date=13 May 2022 |publisher=theprint.in (online) |access-date=1 September 2021  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513085000/https://theprint.in/defence/in-a-first-executive-from-private-sector-enrolled-in-annual-national-defence-college-course/954090/ |archive-date=13 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>


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* Global Issues
* Global Issues
* International Security Environment
* International Security Environment
* India’s Strategic Neighbourhood
* India's Strategic Neighbourhood
* Strategies and Structures for National Security
* Strategies and Structures for National Security


==Method of Study==
==Method of Study==
During the course of each study, the course is divided into seven groups called Integrated Analysis Groups (IAG). Each IAG comprises 13–14 members (4–5 army officers, 1 naval officer, 1–2 air force officers, 3–4 IAS/IPS/Civil Services officers and 4–5 foreign military officers). Each IAG function in a synergetic mode for the purpose of analysing issues, discussions, preparation of papers and presentations. Since 2006 the college has been formally affiliated with [[Madras University]] for the award of [[M.Phil.]] degree in 'Defence and Strategic Studies.'<ref>{{Cite web|last=College|first=National Defence|title=National Defence College|url=http://index.html/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=National Defence College}}</ref>
During the course of each study, the course is divided into seven groups called Integrated Analysis Groups (IAG). Each IAG comprises 13–14 members (4–5 army officers, 1 naval officer, 1–2 air force officers, 3–4 IAS/IPS/Civil Services officers and 4–5 foreign military officers). Each IAG function in a synergetic mode for the purpose of analysing issues, discussions, preparation of papers and presentations. Since 2006, the college has been formally affiliated with [[Madras University]] for the award of [[M.Phil.]] degree in 'Defence and Strategic Studies.'<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Defence College|url=http://index.html/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=National Defence College|archive-date=13 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813222110/http://index.html/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Notable Indian Alumni==
{{See also|Category:National Defence College, India alumni}}
 
The Indian alumni include both [[Chief of the Defence Staff (India)|Chiefs of the Defence Staffs]], 13 [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chiefs of the Army Staff]], 9 [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chiefs of the Naval Staff]], 10 [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chiefs of the Air Staff]], 3 [[Director of the Intelligence Bureau|Directors of the Intelligence Bureau]], 2 [[Chief Election Commissioner of India|Chief Election Commissioners]], 12 [[Ambassadors of India]], 3 [[Central Bureau of Investigation|Directors of CBI]], 3 [[Defence Secretary (India)|Defence Secretaries]] and 3 [[Foreign Secretary (India)|Foreign Secretaries]].<ref name="NDC Alumni">{{cite web |title=Prominent Alumni |url=https://ndc.nic.in/Alumini/alumni/prominent-alumni |website=ndc.nic.in |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208133001/https://ndc.nic.in/Alumini/alumni/prominent-alumni |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Five alumni went on to become [[List of current Indian governors|Governors of Indian States/UT]] - [[Balmiki Prasad Singh]], [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Krishna Mohan Seth]], [[Vinod Kumar Duggal]], [[E. S. L. Narasimhan]] and Lieutenant General [[Gurmit Singh (general)|Gurmit Singh]].<ref name="NDC Alumni"/>
 
==Notable International Alumni==
[[File:Jigme_Khesar_Namgyel_Wangchuck_at_the_Enthronement_of_Naruhito.jpg|right|thumb|100px|[[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], [[King of Bhutan]] is the youngest student to attend NDC.]]
[[File:Hussain_Muhammad_Ershad.jpg|right|thumb|100px|[[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]], 10th [[President of Bangladesh]] & 4th [[Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army]]]]
[[File:Peter_Cosgrove_2017_(1).jpg|right|thumb|100px|[[General (Australia)|General]] [[Peter Cosgrove|Sir Peter Cosgrove]], 26th [[Governor-General of Australia]] & 10th [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|CDF, Australia]]]]
[[File:Ravindra_C._Wijegunaratne.jpg|right|thumb|100px|[[Admiral]] [[Ravindra Wijegunaratne]], 10th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|CDS Sri Lanka]] & 20th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]].]]
[[File:COAS_General_Purna_Chandra_Thapa_(Nepali_Army).jpg|right|thumb|100px|General [[Purna Chandra Thapa]], 12th [[Chief of the Army Staff (Nepal)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Nepalese Army]]]]
 
===Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Representatives===
* [[Lieutenant general (Bangladesh)|Lieutenant General]] [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]], 10th [[President of Bangladesh]] & 4th [[Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army]]
* [[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], 5th [[Druk Gyalpo]] (King of Bhutan)
* Lieutenant General [[Fred Akuffo]], 7th [[Head of state of Ghana]] and 12th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of the [[Ghana Armed Forces]]
* [[General (Australia)|General]] [[Peter Cosgrove|Sir Peter Cosgrove]], 26th [[Governor-General of Australia]] and 10th [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of Defence Force]] of the [[Australian Defence Force]]


==Faculty==
===Chiefs of Defence===
Faculty of National Defence College is drawn from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil services. Usually, there are 7 faculty members ([[Indian Army|Army]] – 3, [[Indian Navy|Navy]] – 1, [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]] – 1, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] – 1 and [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]] – 1). Apart from these 7 regular faculties, the college regularly invites think tanks, ambassadors of different nations, business leaders, ministers from India and friendly countries, defence chiefs of friendly countries to give lectures in the college.<ref>http://ndc.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSevenCentrePhotoTwentyOnePara.aspx?MnId=xDUoPCzA2D5G/XZ6K4O+sA==&ParentID=IjaSQJyesLD3T70MTQax/w {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}</ref>
* General [[Rohan Daluwatte]], 1st [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] & 14th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* General [[Lionel Balagalle]], 2nd [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] & 16th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Donald Perera]], 4th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] & 11th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* General [[Shavendra Silva]], 11th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] & 23rd [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Ravindra Wijegunaratne]], 10th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] & 20th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* Air Vice Marshal [[Napoleon Ashley-Lassen]], 10th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of the [[Ghana Armed Forces]] & 6th [[Chief of Air Staff (Ghana)|Chief of Air Staff]] of [[Ghana Air Force]]
* Brigadier [[Joseph Nunoo-Mensah]], 16th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of the [[Ghana Armed Forces]]
* Major General [[Edwin Sam]], 17th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of the [[Ghana Armed Forces]]
* Lieutenant General [[Seth Obeng]], 24th [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of the [[Ghana Armed Forces]]
* General [[Azizan Ariffin]], 17th [[Chief of Defence Forces (Malaysia)|Chief of Defence Forces]] of the [[Malaysian Armed Forces]]
* Major General [[Moosa Ali Jaleel]], 3rd [[Chief of Defence Force (Maldives)|Chief of Defence Force]] of the [[Maldives National Defence Force]]
* Major General [[Hamzah Sahat]], 11th [[Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces]]
* General [[Jacob John Mkunda]], 9th Chief of Defence Force of the [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]]
* Lieutenant General [[Gibson Jalo]], 2nd [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] of the [[Nigerian Armed Forces]] & 7th [[Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Nigerian Army]]
* General [[Sher Mohammad Karimi]], 2nd [[Chief of General Staff (Afghanistan)|Chief of General Staff]] of the [[Afghan Armed Forces]]
* Major General [[Hamzah Sahat]], 11th [[Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces]]


==Notable Alumni, Foreign==
===Army===
===Army===
* [[General]] [[Denis Perera]], 8th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] [[Denis Perera]], 8th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[General]] [[Tissa Weeratunga]], 9th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* General [[Tissa Weeratunga]], 9th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[General]] [[Nalin Seneviratne]], 10th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* General [[Nalin Seneviratne]], 10th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[General]] [[Hamilton Wanasinghe]], 11th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* General [[Hamilton Wanasinghe]], 11th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[General]] [[C. S. Weerasooriya|Chandrika Srilal Weerasooriya]], 15th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* General [[G. H. de Silva]], 13th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[Brigadier General]] [[Hassan Ngwilizi]], [[Tanzania]]
* General [[Srilal Weerasooriya]], 15th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[Lieutenant General]] [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]], 10th [[President of Bangladesh]] & 4th [[Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army]]
* General [[Shantha Kottegoda]], 17th [[Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]]
* [[General]] [[Peter Cosgrove|Sir Peter Cosgrove]], 10th [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of Australian Defence Force]], and 26th [[Governor-General of Australia]]  
* [[Major General]] [[Matheus Alueendo]], 7th Commander of the [[Namibian Army]]
* [[Fred Akuffo]], former [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], [[Ghana Armed Forces]] and [[List of heads of state of Ghana|Head of State]]
* Major General [[Chris Alli]], 13th [[Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Nigerian Army]]
* [[Major General]] [[Matheus Alueendo]] 7th Commander of the [[Namibian Army]]
* [[Lieutenant general (Bangladesh)|Lieutenant General]] [[Abdul Wadud (officer)|Abdul Wadud]], [[Principal Staff Officer (Bangladesh)|Principal Staff Officer]] of [[Armed Forces Division|Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh]]
* Lieutenant General [[Abdulrahman Dambazau]], 21st [[Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Nigerian Army]]
* General [[Purna Chandra Thapa]], 12th [[Chief of the Army Staff (Nepal)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Nepalese Army]]
* General [[Prabhu Ram Sharma]], 13th [[Chief of the Army Staff (Nepal)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Nepalese Army]]
* Lieutenant General [[Joseph Musanyufu]], Joint Chief of Staff of the [[Uganda People's Defence Force]]
* Major General [[Leopold Kyanda]], Joint Chief of Staff of the [[Uganda People's Defence Force]]
* Major General [[Matheus Alueendo]], Army Commander of the [[Namibian Army]]
* General [[Mustafizur Rahman (general)|Mustafizur Rahman]], 9th [[Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)|Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Bangladesh Army]]


===Navy===
===Navy===
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* [[Vice Admiral]] [[Asoka de Silva (admiral)|Asoka de Silva]], 9th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Vice Admiral]] [[Asoka de Silva (admiral)|Asoka de Silva]], 9th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[H. A. Silva]], 10th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[H. A. Silva]], 10th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Ravindra Wijegunaratne]], 20th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Clancy Fernando]], 11th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[D. A. M. R. Samarasekara]], 12th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Thisara Samarasinghe]], 16th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[D. W. A. S. Dissanayake]], 17th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Sirimevan Ranasinghe]], 22nd [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Sirimevan Ranasinghe]], 22nd [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Vice Admiral]] [[Robert Walls (admiral)|Robert Walls]], former [[Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)]]
* [[Admiral]] [[Nishantha Ulugetenne]], 24th [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy]]
* [[Vice Admiral]] [[Jonathan Mead]], former [[Commander Australian Fleet]]
* Vice Admiral [[Robert Walls (admiral)|Robert Walls]], 5th [[Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Vice Chief of the Defence Force]] of the [[Australian Defence Force]]
* [[Vice Admiral]] Tan Sri Mohd Shariff Ishak, former [[Chief of Navy (Malaysia)]]
* Vice Admiral [[Jonathan Mead]], 2nd [[Chief of Joint Capabilities]] of the [[Australian Defence Force]]
* Vice Admiral [[Akintunde Aduwo]], 6th [[Chief of Naval Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of Naval Staff]] of the [[Nigerian Navy]]
* Vice Admiral [[E. O. Owusu-Ansah]], 14th [[Chief of Naval Staff (Ghana)|Chief of Naval Staff]] of the [[Ghana Navy]]
* Rear Admiral [[John Gbenah]], 15th [[Chief of Naval Staff (Ghana)|Chief of Naval Staff]] of the [[Ghana Navy]]


===Air Force===
===Air Force===
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Harry Goonatilake]], 5th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Dick Perera]], 6th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Walter Fernando]], 7th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Walter Fernando]], 7th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Terry Gunawardena]], 8th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Oliver Ranasinghe]], 9th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Oliver Ranasinghe]], 9th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
 
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Jayalath Weerakkody]], 10th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
===Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Representatives===
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Gagan Bulathsinghala]], 15th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]], former [[Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)|Bangladesh Army Chief]] and [[President of Bangladesh]]
* [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Sudarshana Pathirana]], 18th [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force]]
* [[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], [[Druk Gyalpo]] (King of Bhutan)
* Air Marshal [[Isaac Alfa]], 13th [[Chief of the Air Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of the Air Staff]] of the [[Nigerian Air Force]]
* [[Fred Akuffo]], former [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], [[Ghana Armed Forces]] and [[List of heads of state of Ghana|Head of State]]
* Air Vice Marshal [[Fakhrul Azam]], 11th [[Chief of Air Staff (Bangladesh)|Chief of Air Staff]] of the [[Bangladesh Air Force]]
* [[General]] [[Peter Cosgrove|Sir Peter Cosgrove]], 10th [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of Australian Defence Force]], and 26th [[Governor-General of Australia]]
* Air Vice Marshal [[Julius Boateng]], 18th [[Chief of Air Staff (Ghana)|Chief of Air Staff]] of the [[Ghana Air Force]]
* Brigadier General [[Mohammad Sharif Ibrahim]], Commander of [[Royal Brunei Air Force]]


==See also==
==See also==
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:National Defence College (India)| ]]
[[Category:Military academies of India]]
[[Category:Military academies of India]]
[[Category:Staff colleges]]
[[Category:Staff colleges]]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 25 March 2026


National Defence College
Motto
बुध्दिर्यस्य बलंतस्य (Sanskrit)
Motto in English
Buddhiryasya Balamtasya (He who has wisdom has the strength)
TypeDefence Service Training Institute
Established27 April 1960; 66 years ago (27 April 1960)
CommandantAir Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta AVSM [1]
Location
New Delhi
,
India
Websitendc.in

The National Defence College, located in New Delhi, is a staff college and the highest seat of strategic learning for Defence Service and Civil Service officers. This is a very prestigious course attended only by a few hand-picked defence officers of One-Star rank and civil servants of the rank of Joint secretary to the Government of India. Each year, approximately 25 officers from friendly foreign countries like the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE and others attend the course.[2]

This college provides strategic leadership to the Government of India in national and international security matters and also acts as a think tank on defence matters and holds a very important position in shaping up the Indian defence outlook.

History[edit | edit source]

After India's independence in 1947, senior officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force attended the Imperial Defence College (IDC) in the United Kingdom before being appointed to important commands. The vacancies at the IDC was only about two or three each year. In 1959, the Government of India announced that a college on the pattern of the IDC will set up in New Delhi. This would allow for a larger number of officers to be trained. Lieutenant General Kanwar Bahadur Singh, the Adjutant General at Army HQ was appointed the first Commandant of the college.[3]

Location[edit | edit source]

The college is located on Tees January Marg of Lutyens' Delhi, in a grand British-era building spread over acres of lush green lawns. The building was built by Sir Sobha Singh as a mansion for Khan Saheb Tej Muhammad Khan of Badrashi, North-West Frontier Province. From 1939 to 1947, the building served as an Army General Mess. From 1947 to 1960, it was the office and residence of the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India.[4]

The college is adjacent to the home where Mahatma Gandhi lived the last five months of his life, and the garden where he was assassinated - the Gandhi Smriti. Residential facilities for the officers are located in the central vista of Delhi, on Ashok Rajpath near India Gate. The Commandant of NDC has a bungalow at 16, Akbar Road called NDC House.[5]

Crest[edit | edit source]

The crest of NDC has a lamp of knowledge surrounded by the wreath of green Ashoka tree leaves with the State Emblem of India superimposed and placed against the rich maroon backdrop of the Joint Services flag. The lamp has four flames representing the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, the Indian Air Force and the Civil Services of India.

Commandant[edit | edit source]

Main article: Commandant of the National Defence College

The NDC is headed by the Commandant who is the overall in-charge of all the functioning of the college including academics and administration. The Commandant of the college is an Officer of Three-star rank. The tenure of each Commandant is for 2 years which rotates between the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

Faculty and staff[edit | edit source]

Further information: Category:Academic staff of the National Defence College, India

The Faculty of NDC was designed to be minimal. There are called Senior Directing Staff (SDS) and direct the students, rather than deliver lectures. The lectures are delivered by distinguished guest speakers. The SDS is drawn from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil services and are of two-star rank. Usually, there are 7 SDS (Army – 3, Navy – 1, Air Force – 1, IAS – 1 and IFS – 1). Apart from these 7 SDS, the college regularly invites think tanks, ambassadors of different nations, business leaders, ministers from India and friendly countries, defence chiefs of friendly countries to give lectures in the college.[6]

The administrative wing is headed by the Secretary, a one-star officer from the Indian Army and an alumnus of NDC. He is assisted by the Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster General (AA&QMG), an officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Other key staff include the Directing Staff (Coordination) (DS Coord) and Junior Directing Staff (Research & Reference) (JDS R&R). They are officers from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force on rotation. The DS (Coord) is of the rank of Captain/Group Captain and the JDS (R&R) is of the rank of Commander/Wing Commander.[6]

Course[edit | edit source]

Delegation of National Defence College of India in a meeting with Reuven Rivlin president of Israel, August 2018

The NDC conducts a 47-week National Security and Strategic Study course each year which commences in the first week of January each year and finishes in the first week of December. This course also involves extensive travel within and outside the country to visit Indian states and foreign countries where course members meet head of states and important decision makers to understand the political, social and strategic landscape of the state/country. The entire course is divided in six subjects spread over two terms, as follows:[7]

  • Understanding India & Introduction to Strategy
  • Study on Economic Security, Science and Technology
  • Global Issues
  • International Security Environment
  • India's Strategic Neighbourhood
  • Strategies and Structures for National Security

Method of Study[edit | edit source]

During the course of each study, the course is divided into seven groups called Integrated Analysis Groups (IAG). Each IAG comprises 13–14 members (4–5 army officers, 1 naval officer, 1–2 air force officers, 3–4 IAS/IPS/Civil Services officers and 4–5 foreign military officers). Each IAG function in a synergetic mode for the purpose of analysing issues, discussions, preparation of papers and presentations. Since 2006, the college has been formally affiliated with Madras University for the award of M.Phil. degree in 'Defence and Strategic Studies.'[8]

Notable Indian Alumni[edit | edit source]

See also: Category:National Defence College, India alumni

The Indian alumni include both Chiefs of the Defence Staffs, 13 Chiefs of the Army Staff, 9 Chiefs of the Naval Staff, 10 Chiefs of the Air Staff, 3 Directors of the Intelligence Bureau, 2 Chief Election Commissioners, 12 Ambassadors of India, 3 Directors of CBI, 3 Defence Secretaries and 3 Foreign Secretaries.[9]

Five alumni went on to become Governors of Indian States/UT - Balmiki Prasad Singh, Lieutenant General Krishna Mohan Seth, Vinod Kumar Duggal, E. S. L. Narasimhan and Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh.[9]

Notable International Alumni[edit | edit source]

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan is the youngest student to attend NDC.
Hussain Muhammad Ershad, 10th President of Bangladesh & 4th Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army
General Sir Peter Cosgrove, 26th Governor-General of Australia & 10th CDF, Australia
Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, 10th CDS Sri Lanka & 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
General Purna Chandra Thapa, 12th Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepalese Army

Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Representatives[edit | edit source]

Chiefs of Defence[edit | edit source]

Army[edit | edit source]

Navy[edit | edit source]

Air Force[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Air Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta new Commandant of NDC". Ministry of Defence Facebook. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "College Comes into Being". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE TO BE SET UP IN DELHI" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 30 September 1959.
  4. ↑ "History of the Building". ndc.nic.in. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Nov 17, Raj Shekhar / TNN / Updated. "Cops in tizzy over air marshal's nameplates | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "NDC Faculty". Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Suchet Vir Singh (13 May 2022). "In a first, executive from private sector enrolled in annual National Defence College course". theprint.in (online). Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "National Defence College". National Defence College. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Prominent Alumni". ndc.nic.in. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]


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