No engineering degrees by Pune University for NDA cadets
29 Nov, 2012The former National Defence Academy (NDA) commandant Lt. Gen. Jatinder Singh had announced on May 23, 2012 that NDA was collaborating with the University of Pune (UoP) to confer cadets with science and humanities background with B. Tech with military specialisation and B.A. (Honours). He also stated that unlike other engineering programmes that have eight semesters, this programme would have only six semesters, followed by one-year training.
But the reply from NDA, Khadakwasla to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has denied signing of any MoU with University of Pune regarding B. Tech course for NDA cadets. It also stated that NDA was not running any B. Tech. course. Cadets are trained for three years at NDA following which they are sent to other institutions like IMA Dehradun and AFA Secunderabad while UoP grants engineering is a degree after a four-year training.
According to the sources, around 200 cadets per course (80 per cent of those joining), for the last two courses, had enrolled for the programme. The NDA had also hired staff on contract for the B. Tech degree but the programme was called off due to objections from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) which has been awarding BA and BSc degrees to NDA candidates.