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Department of Defence and Strategic Studies

The Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DDSS) is one of the flourishing departments of Savitribai Phule Pune University. This department was established in 1963 as the Department of Military Studies, offering undergraduate courses on military studies. In 1974 the department started post-graduation courses focusing more on research activities. On the recommendation of Candeth Committee, this discipline has changed the paradigm of teaching and research activity. Subsequently, the name of the department changed from Military Studies to Defence Studies. In 1984 with the expansion of the scope of the discipline, the name of the department was changed to the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DDSS). DDSS is expanding the horizon of discipline through research and innovation and has inculcated thought-provoking teaching. Since its inception, DDSS has been building up institutional knowledge about various aspects of India's national security.

DDSS shares a strong bond with the Indian Armed Forces and Indian Air Forces. In the year 1994, the Indian Army established the Chhatrapati Shivaji Chair in Policy Studies. In the year 2020, the Indian Air Force established the Chair of excellence in the name Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. The Department has unique courses such as Scholars in Residence Programme under which several officers from the Indian Army join the Department as Visiting Scholars. Every year the Department and the Indian Army organize the General B.C. Joshi Memorial Lecture, in the memory of General B.C. Joshi. This lecture is delivered by the serving Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), in rotation. At DDSS, we acknowledge the changing nature of security and various developments at national and international level. We use an interdisciplinary approach to understand various areas of discipline. We give major thrust on geopolitical studies, military geography, strategic studies, international organization, international relations, military history, defence organisation and technology, military history and defence journalism. DDSS offers M.A./M.Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies, M. Phil. and Ph.D. in Defence and Strategic Studies.

From the academic year 2018-19 the Department is introduced three Post Graduate diploma courses namely, Disaster Management and National Security, Counter-Terrorism Studies and Defence Analyst and National security. From the academic year 2020-21 the Department is introducing M.A./M.Sc. Five Year Integrated Course in Defence and Strategic Studies, M.A. in Global Peace, Security and Strategic Studies and also six Post Graduate diploma courses namely, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Vision & Nation Building, Middle East and South Asian Security, African Peace & Security, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) & National Security, European Peace and Security, Cyber Security and India’s National Security. Semester and credit pattern is followed for all the courses.

WHY US

We are a unique confluence of two academic rivers: research and teaching/learning. This significant aspect has built us as one of the reputed departments. We believe in nurturing the young mind with excellent academic merit. Our dedicated faculty, with their innovative skills, makes the learning process an interesting subject, and the faculties enhance students with a plethora of facilities required for students.

The faculty is encouraged to employ a number of methods of instruction. Consistent with the University's quality assurance and enhancement practices, each method is designed to ensure that the students derive maximum benefit from the lectures and seminars. The courses are designed to nurture critical analysis skills (written and oral), soft skills, intercultural skills, and e-competencies in the students to enable them to play professional, constructive or leadership roles at the national, regional, and international levels.

Students are encouraged to work both independently or as part of a group when entrusting a study project. Independent study is vital to develop research skills: for the preparation of essays, book reviews, or while carrying out a dissertation. All of this written work is designed to enhance the skills of students. They will understand the complex arguments and issues to their essential elements, and express their own critical ideas succinctly and clearly in an organized manner. Students are also encouraged to work independently on presentations to develop oral communication skills. This helps to develop the ability to organize and to think quickly about complex issues, and it develops skills necessary for reasoned argumentation.

We have the latest teaching/learning equipment, computer lab, Wi-Fi campus, and library. We nurture and sustain the environment which is conducive to developing the spirit of inquiry and pursuit of knowledge.