Online Workshop on India's strategic & National Security Issues for University Students/Youth/ Scholars/ Young Professionals

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The VIF organised a series of lectures on India’s national security and strategic culture as a part of the workshop for students/youth/scholars/professionals from 25 to 27 Feb 2021. The aims of the workshop was to give a chance to young students, researchers and professionals from other disciplines to learn the necessary conceptual frameworks and promote Indian precepts and concepts as well as methods of analysis to conduct advanced historical and theoretical research in the field of strategic and security studies. The three-day’ workshop elicited a very good response as over 100 participants from diverse backgrounds and regions of India took part in the deliberations.

The workshop was especially relevant as it was held during trying times and circumstances, which urge us to re-invent and re-align our values to overcome the unique challenges that the nation is facing. The lectures focussed on the evolving dynamics of the geopolitics & geo-strategy as well as on technological trends that have a great bearing on India’s strategic and security approaches. The objective was to empower a young lot of participants to benefit from a range of ideas and experiences of our practitioners and experts. This objective was achieved was to a large extent was achieved.

After the welcome/Opening Remarks by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, the following presentations/lectures cum discussions were made during the workshop:-

25 Feb 2021

(a) India’s Civilizational & Cultural Heritage: Impact on India’s Strategic & Security Outlook - Dr. Arpita Mitra, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol
(b) Pakistan Sponsored Terrorism and Situation in Kashmir post Art. 370 Abrogation- Lt. Gen. Ata Hasnain (retd.), Distinguished Fellow, VIF & Member NDMA, Former Corps Commander in Kashmir

26 Feb 2021

(c) Technology Dominance and the role of Bharatiya Mind- Ms. Devsena Mishra, Promoter of advanced technologies, startup ecosystem and Digital India, Make in India, Smart Cities, Startup India etc.
(d) India’s Response to Covid-19 and India’s Economic Outlook including Aatmanirbharta Policies - Mr. Pranav Kumar,Director and Head International trade policy, Confederation of Indian Industry(CII),

27 Feb 2021

(e) An Approach to Read Future Technology Trends – Ms. Devsena Mishra, Promoter of advanced technologies, startup ecosystem and Digital India, Make in India, Smart Cities, Startup India etc.

(f) India’s Response to China’s Aggression along the LAC - Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Rakesh Sharma (retd.), Former Corps Commander, Ladakh

After every presentation adequate time for Questions and Answers as well as for further interaction was given. There was active participation by the students in the interactive sessions. After the last presentation a debriefing/feedback session was held where attendees were asked to give their impressions about the Workshop; a number of recommendations were given by them including the need for having more such workshops.