The recent killings in Europe were represensible, he said while addressing the 60th course of the National Defence College

Calling terrorism ‘the most virulent curse on humanity,’ President Ram Nath Kovind condemned the recent attacks in Europe and said that a safer world can be thought of only if we could purge it of terrorism.

Addressing the Valedictory Ceremony of the 60th course of the National Defence College (NDC) virtually today, he said, “The recent incidents of killings in European countries are reprehensible beyond words. It brings us to the point where we need to understand that terrorism in any form and manifestation needs to be stamped out through collective efforts of the international community.”

Referring to the COVID-19 situation in the world, he said that the state of the world today poses multiple challenges before every nation. Decision-makers have to be guided by national interests as well as international objectives, both of which should be adaptive and multi-pronged.

Envisioning a greater role for the NDC, he said, “The policy of expansionism followed by a few nations demands a strategic and matured response globally. It is in this context that the NDC deals with several such challenges and offers its course participants tools to understand the multi-dimensional geostrategic and geopolitical environment for future.”

The course enables students to build an intellectual capital and embrace the knowledge in order to make all your endeavours adaptive to challenges of the future and deal with international complexities, he said.
“Over the sixty glorious years, the NDC has lived up to the aims and objectives of its foundation,” he said.

The President said that the NDC has imparted skills and knowledge to senior officers not only from our Armed Forces and Civil Services, but also those from friendly foreign countries, to help them make informed policy decisions related to their respective national objectives and aims.

“Senior officers from the Civil Services join this course to improve their understanding on national and international security situations,” he added.

He said that the NDC can take forward the legacy of strategic learning which has begun with Chanakya in 200 to 300 BC. He said that Chanakya believed that warfare and strategy go hand in hand with diplomacy, governance, justice, economy, organisation of the State, and the overall value system.

“I see the NDC as a continuation of the long Indian tradition of comprehensive strategic thinking. This is reflected in its curriculum, beginning with a socio-political study of India and culminating in strategies and structures of national security,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the 60th NDC course to contribute significantly towards enhancing national security for India saying that to secure the nation as well as to ensure peace and welfare for its people, decision-makers have to remain alive to the full spectrum of such aspects.