Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over National Defence University Bill

Kathmandu. In the discussion on the 'National Defence University Bill, 2083' in the House of Representatives meeting, lawmakers, while accepting the objective and national need of the bill, have raised serious questions about its proposed structure, the process of appointing officials, and academic autonomy. They emphasized that the defence university should be developed not just as a training center for the army but as a national center for academics and research.

During the discussion, lawmaker Vikram Thapa stated that academic expertise should be prioritized over the influence of security agencies and demanded the inclusion of experts in the recommendation committee. Lawmaker Bharat Giri said that changing security dimensions like cyber security, information technology, and geopolitics should be included in the university's curriculum. Emphasizing that knowledge and research should be the main backbone of the university, he drew the government's attention to making it a platform for academic freedom.