<b>Govt plans Rs 1,000cr National Police University</b>

Policing in India is set to undergo a major change with the setting up of the National Police University to train present and future officers in key areas like internal security, research and development, human rights and public relations.

The university, which is to be set up on the lines of the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), has been conceived to address the fast-changing requirements in policing in view of the worsening internal security situation, lack of serious research and development work and a dip in morale.

The institute will offer graduate, post graduate and PhD courses to civilians and serving police officers in a range of subjects like foresic science, biological warfare, criminal psychology, public relations, human rights, insurgency, communal tension and man management.

The union home ministry last week took the first step towards setting up the institute, expected to cost around Rs 1,000 crore, by forming a five-member high-power committee headed by BSF Additional Director General (ADG) M L Kumawat to prepare a detailed action plan.

"Policing in India is not professional. A doctor, lawyer or an engineer have to study subjects regarding his respective field for three to five years before joining the profession whereas a police officer get just six months training. We are aiming to plug this lacuna," Kumawat told PTI.

The training received by police personnel, who have come from various academic streams, are of physical nature, and that is why policing in many states is still very primitive, he added.