Indian Army starts Research Programme for Army Officers to enhance Geopolitical & Strategic skills

Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) under the patronage of the Indian Army has initiated a PhD programme for serving Indian Army Officers to enhance professional military education. The initiative of the PhD programme is a joint collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). The last date of submitting the application for the programme at CLAWS is 30 June 2021. For more information visit https://claws.in.

CLAWS has taken this initiative with a view to further enhance the professional military education (PME) of officers, as also to prepare a pool of officers for instructional duties in Army Institutions. CLAWS and MAHE jointly have signed a Letter of Intent to initiate PhD programme for Officers in broad subjects that include Geopolitics, National Security, Strategic Studies and International Relations. MAHE, Manipal, is one of the few universities in India that has a separate department of ‘Geopolitics and International Relations.

Eligibility and Procedure:

Mandatory Requirements: To enrol in the PhD programme, the officer candidates need to fulfil the following mandatory requirements:-

1. Minimum service of 15 years.
2. Minimum 60% marks in their Post Graduate programme (PG may be in any field).
3. Minimum two publications prior to applying for PhD preferably in a field related to available broad subjects for PhD to include online/ book chapters/ journal articles. Preference will be given to publications in refereed journals, the details of which will be made available on the CLAWS website. At CLAWS, articles may be accepted in CLAWS Journal, as Manekshaw Papers and chapters in edited volumes, if found suitable for publication.
4. A comprehensive research proposal which is to be forwarded along with the application inclusive of a survey of literature, scope & definition, research methodology, research questions, hypotheses and tentative chaptalisation. Sample format of the Research Proposal will be made available on the CLAWS website.
5. The application form should be duly counter-signed by the Initiating Officer (IO).

Should Read: UPSC Civil Service Exam 2020 Interview Dates Out, To be held in Aug-Sept

Also, Read: Indian Army postponed Rallies scheduled in May-June due to COVID-19

Registration & Selection Process: 

Registration for the course will be carried out through a three-tier system as follows:-

1. Preliminary shortlisting of the candidates by a ‘Selection and Review Board (SRB)’ at CLAWS.
2. The recommendations by SRB will be forwarded to a committee consisting of members from the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, MAHE and co-supervisors from CLAWS for further scrutiny.
3. The final selection of the candidates for registration will be done by the Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC), MAHE with consultation from CLAWS.

CLAWS MAHE PhD Admission Form

About the Programme: The Department of Geopolitics and International Relations focuses research on almost all the geopolitical regions with a greater focus on East Asia and South Asia, Strategic Technologies for National Security with a Focus on Outer Space, Nuclear Strategy of Major Powers, Delivery systems of China and Pakistan, Global Security Challenges, Dimensions of National Security, India’s Foreign Policy Challenges, Cyber Warfare and Critical Infrastructure Security, Maritime Security, Indo-Pacific Security Architecture, Counter-terrorism, Insurgency and asymmetric Conflict. In addition to the above, certain additional subjects have also been proposed to MAHE for inclusion and consideration.

Last date of Application: All applications should be submitted to CLAWS by 30 June 2021. For more details regarding the programme aspirants are asked to visit the CLAWS admission portal.