"The UGC has decided to upgrade department of defence and strategic studies to department of national security studies in five universities...," HRD Minister Smriti Irani told Rajya Sabha.
In a written reply, she said the five universities are -- University of Allahabad, University of Madras, University of Pune, University of Manipur and University of Punjab.
A model syllabus for national security studies at the post graduate level has also been developed, based on the recommendations of an expert committee to review the existing syllabus of defence and strategic studies at the under graduate, post graduate, M.Phil and Ph.D levels, the Minister said.