-By Chandan Anand, Group Editor, ArdorComm Media
February 27, 2025
Dr. DH Singh Thakur on Defence Education & Innovation said “We Are the Only Defence University in India”
Q: Could you tell us more about your institution?
A: I’m really glad to talk about my institute. In a nutshell, this is the only defence university in India, operating under the Ministry of Defence. It is part and parcel of DRDO itself. We offer only postgraduate courses, including MTech, MS, MSc, and PhD programs. We cater to the needs of defence organizations across India.
Q: Do graduates from your institution have job opportunities in the defence sector?
A: The majority of our students are sponsored professionals from defence organizations like the Tri-Services, DRDO, Ordnance Factory, and DPSUs. Recently, we have started admitting civilian students to meet the demand of private defence industries. Our aim is to educate and help in recruiting skilled professionals for both public and private defence sectors.
Q: Where does digital literacy stand in your institution? What digital education processes have you implemented?
A: In defence, IT and cybersecurity are crucial. Our defence organizations are vulnerable to cyber threats, so we work extensively in this domain. We also train a large number of central government officers to address cybersecurity challenges.
Q: What factors do you consider before adopting education technology products?
A: We are strong believers in “Make in India.” We ensure that any technological products we adopt are tamper-proof and prefer homegrown solutions rather than relying on foreign technologies.
Q: Does your institution have an incubation center?
A: Yes, and you are talking to the right person—I was the former director of the incubation center at DIAT. I established it, and it is running successfully. We encourage young students to engage in defence innovation. DRDO has an initiative called “Dare to Dream,” which provides funding from a few crores up to ₹10 crores.
Q: What initiatives does your institution take for faculty training?
A: Since the defence sector has a high manpower requirement, we conduct faculty training at both national and state university levels. This ensures that knowledge reaches students effectively through trained faculty members.
Q: How do forums like this, where academia, corporates, and government come together, benefit the community?
A: These forums help us connect, exchange ideas, and understand each other’s perspectives. Earlier, we weren’t in the public domain, but now we are, thanks to platforms like yours. We also get insights into what civilian universities require.
Q: ArdorComm Media has recently completed three years as a media startup. Any message for us?
A: I really appreciate that ArdorComm Media, despite being just three years old, has already started making an impact. Media houses like yours play a vital role as “E-weapons” in today’s world.
Q: Thank you for attending this forum and sharing your insights.
A: Thank you for inviting me. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.