After 19 yrs, NDA draws up new curriculum to focus on basics

Ninteen years after it set the curriculum and training pattern in 1987, the National Defence Academy is ready with a new course to address the changing needs of the defence services.

Ninteen years after it set the curriculum and training pattern in 1987, the National Defence Academy NDA is ready with a new course to address the changing needs of the defence services. The module will include anti-terrorism operations to humanitarian law and would be integrated in the curriculum from this year8217;s autumn term.

8216;8216;The lesson we learnt from Kargil was that we had lost focus of basics. The basics need to be taught right and we will emphasise on them,8217;8217; NDA Commandant Lt Gen A K Chopra said. The last time the NDA set its curriculum was in 1987, just before insurgency in Kashmir.

For starters, all cadets will take a course on 8216;International Law of Armed Conflict8217; that would also deal with Geneva conventions to get acquainted with martial law. 8216;8216;While conducting anti-terrorism operations, officers need to know the rules. This helps to minimise collateral damage and harassment of innocents,8217;8217; Chopra said.

The new curriculum will lay greater emphasis on the art of field craft 8212; making use of the ground for cover, moving in different kinds of terrain, map reading and use of weapons. The training of gentlemen cadets would also be raised from the current section level to platoon level. Besides, the curriculum also caters to specific training requirements and service-based training will be given priority in the final two terms.

For the Army cadets, subjects like telecommunication, vehicle technology and armament technology have been introduced, Naval cadets will take up courses like navigation and chart reading and Air Force cadets will learn avionics and air sciences.

8216;8216;The idea is that when cadets go to their finishing academies, they do not spend time on theoretical classes, but proceed directly to practical training,8217;8217; NDA principal S C Joshi said. While the new curriculum will start with the 116 Course Batch in July 8212; some modules began last year 8212; total integration of the changes will take three years.