About the School

School of National Security Studies Building

The School of National Security Studies (SNSS) has been conceptualised to encourage creation and dissemination of knowledge in security and strategic studies, and international relations in the country. Initially, it was Centre for Security Studies which was established in 2009 as one of the founding centres under School of International Studies. Subsequently, in May 2018, with approval from the University Grants Commission, the School of National Security Studies came into existence.

Given the dynamic international security environment and India's rising profile both in terms of economic and strategic capability, national security has emerged as a critical area both for policymaking and as a field of study. The School, therefore, aims to establish itself as an institution of excellence and encourage high quality research in the field of Security Studies in India. Academic programmes at SNSS have been designed to encourage studies, research and analysis in all areas of security and strategic studies including research into various internal security threats, nuclear deterrence and strategy, threats emanating from Space and Cyber domain, national security structure and higher defence management, maritime and coastal security.

The school fosters an environment of academic excellence where students and faculty engage in cutting-edge research that addresses contemporary security challenges. Our interdisciplinary approach combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, preparing graduates to become leaders in national security, defense policy, and strategic analysis.

Our Uniqueness

The School of National Security Studies stands out as a premier institution with distinctive features that set us apart in the field of security and strategic studies. Our unique advantages make us the preferred choice for students seeking excellence in national security education.

Largest Faculty Network in India

The School of National Security Studies has the largest number of regular faculty members in India, ensuring personalized attention and diverse expertise for comprehensive learning.

NEP-2020 Compliant Curriculum

Courses based on NEP-2020 and UGC's LOCF and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), ensuring modern, flexible, and industry-relevant education.

Advanced Technology Infrastructure

State-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) and High-Power Computing (HPC) Lab for Technology-Enabled Teaching and Learning.

Pan-India Student Representation

Diverse student body from across India with excellent student-to-teacher ratio, fostering rich cultural exchange and comprehensive learning experience.

Strategic Institutional Partnerships

MoUs with prestigious institutions including Indian Army, Naval War College (Goa), and MP-IDSA New Delhi, providing unique learning opportunities.

Expert Faculty & Industry Exposure

Well-qualified faculty with diverse expertise and regular talks/lectures by diplomats, academicians, and industry professionals.

Leading Institution

Dean's Welcome Message

Dean Photo

Prof. Sanjay K Jha

Welcome to the School of National Security Studies (SNSS) at the Central University of Gujarat.

The School of National Security Studies stands at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and education in the vital areas of national and international security. As global threats continue to evolve in complexityβ€”from cyber warfare and emerging strategic technologies to maritime security challengesβ€”our school is committed to producing scholars, analysts, and professionals equipped to meet these pressing demands with insight and integrity.

Currently, the School comprises three vibrant and specialized departments:

  • Department of Security Studies: Focusing on internal and external security challenges, terrorism, insurgency, and counterterrorism studies.
  • Department of Strategic Technologies: Dedicated to understanding the impact of emerging and disruptive technologies on national security and defense policy.
  • Department of Maritime Security Studies: Concentrating on issues related to maritime governance, coastal security, and the geostrategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region.

At SNSS, we emphasize a multidisciplinary and research-oriented academic environment, guided by expert faculty and enriched through collaborations with policy think tanks, research institutions, and government agencies. Our students are encouraged to engage with real-world challenges through seminars, field work, and policy simulations.

Prof. Sanjay K Jha
Dean, School of National Security Studies

Departments

Department of Security Studies

Focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of national and international security. It engages with traditional and non-traditional threats and fosters expertise in strategic analysis and defense policy.

HOD: Prof Arun Vishwanathan

Email: arunv@cug.ac.in

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Department of Strategic Technologies

Addresses critical domains like cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, and strategic technologies with implications for national defense and technological self-reliance.

HOD: Dr. Vishwas Raval

Email: vishwas.raval@cug.ac.in

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Department of Maritime Security Studies

Dedicated to exploring security issues in the maritime domain including naval strategy, blue economy, coastal resilience, and geopolitical maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

HOD: Dr. Manasi Singh

Email: manasi.singh@cug.ac.in

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Program Details

M.A. in Defence and Strategic Studies
Duration: 2 Years
Syllabus:
Ph.D. in Security Studies
Duration: As per UGC Guidelines
Ph.D. in Strategic Technologies and National Security
Duration: As per UGC Guidelines
Ph.D. in Maritime Security
Duration: As per UGC Guidelines

Faculty Profile

Prof. Sanjay K Jha
Prof. Sanjay Kumar Jha (Professor & Dean)

Department: Security Studies

Email: sanjayjha@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Internal Security, Terrorism & Insurgency, Maoism, Conflict Management and Resolution, Security and Politics in South Asia.

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Dr. Arun Vishwanathan
Prof. Arun Vishwanathan (Professor & Head)

Department: Security Studies

Email: arunv@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Nuclear Deterrence and Strategy, Chinese and Pakistani nuclear and missile capabilities, Proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology, Nuclear disarmament, India's Defence Ecosystem, and Higher Defence Management.

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Prof. Parth Shah
Prof. Parth Shah (Professor)

Department: Strategic Technologies

Email: parth.shah@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Privacy Preserving, Cyber security and Forensics, Homomorphic Encryption, Computer Architecture and Organizations.

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Dr. Vishwas Raval
Dr. Vishwas Raval (Associate Professor & Head)

Department: Strategic Technologies

Email: vishwas.raval@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Computer Vision, Data Science, Cyber Security, Machine Learning, Information Retrieval, WWW and Search Engines.

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Dr. Nongmaithem Mohandas Singh
Dr. Nongmaithem Mohandas Singh (Associate Professor)

Department: Security Studies

Email: nongmaithem.singh@cug.ac.in

Specialization: National Security and Northeast India, Geopolitics and Security in India's neighborhood, Conflict Resolution, Security and Foreign Policy of Russia and Central, insurgency and counterinsurgency; International security and politics Asia.

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Dr. Manasi Singh
Dr. Manasi Singh (Associate Professor)

Department: Security Studies

Email: manasi.singh@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Role of International Organizations in peace and security, Conflict, Security and Development, Global Governance, Security and Development, EU as a Global Actor, Security Architecture in Asia-Pacific and Connectivity and Geopolitics.

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Dr. T. K. Singh
Dr. T. K. Singh (Associate Professor)

Department: Strategic Technologies

Email: tksingh@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Cyber Security, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, Intelligence & Counter-Intelligence, Low-Intensity Conflict & Organised Crime, Higher Defence Organisation, Civil-Military Relations.

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Dr. Kishore Jose
Dr. Kishore Jose (Assistant Professor)

Department: Security Studies

Email: kishor@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Non-traditional Security Challenges, Energy Security and Central Asia's Politics and Society.

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Dr. Shrish Kumar Tiwari
Dr. Shrish Kumar Tiwari (Assistant Professor)

Department: Strategic Technologies

Email: shrish.tiwari@cug.ac.in

Specialization: Cyber Law- Information Technology Act, Privacy law, Data protection, Information security, E-commerce.

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Dr. Sourabh Kumar
Dr. Sourabh Kumar (Assistant Professor)

Department: Strategic Technologies

Email: sourabh.kumar@cug.ac.in

Specialization: India's foreign and defense policy, India's space security, Traditional and Non-traditional security challenges French Language.

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Dr. Amit Mukherjee
Dr. Amit Mukherjee (Assistant Professor)

Department: Strategic Technologies

Email: amitm.cst@cug.ac.in

Specialization: GIS and Remote Sensing for National and International Strategic Security; Maritime GIS; Weapons, Wars and Warfare; Military Affairs and Strategy; Border Security; Homeland Security; AI, Space and Cyber Warfare., India-US-Israel Studies.

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Dr. Amit Kumar
Dr. Amit Kumar (Assistant Professor)

Department: Maritime Security

Email: amit@cug.ac.in

Specialization: maritime security, Indo-Pacific/Indian Ocean geopolitics, Asian security, South Asian politics, regional connectivity, and India & neighbourhood

Dr. Priyanka Patel
Dr. Priyanka Patel (Assistant Professor)

Department: Maritime Security

Email: priyanka.patel@cug.ac.in

Specialization: National Security Strategy, Strategic/ Policy Documents, India's Maritime Security, Indian Navy, Defence Modernisation and Indigenisation

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Research Thrust Areas

The School of National Security Studies conducts cutting-edge research across diverse domains of security and strategic studies. Our research thrust areas represent critical fields of inquiry that address contemporary security challenges facing India and the global community.

Internal Security & Terrorism Studies

Internal Security Terrorism Insurgency Border Management Strategic Intelligence

Comprehensive analysis of domestic security challenges, counter-terrorism strategies, insurgency patterns, and intelligence frameworks to enhance national security preparedness.

Nuclear Security & Arms Control

Non-Proliferation Arms Control Nuclear Weapons Deterrence

Advanced research on nuclear deterrence theory, proliferation challenges, disarmament frameworks, and strategic stability in the contemporary global order.

Defense Policy & Strategic Studies

India's Defence Policies Higher Defence Management Civil-Military Relations

Examination of defense policy formulation, military doctrine evolution, strategic planning processes, and civil-military interface in democratic governance.

Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies

Ethnic Conflicts Religious Conflicts Ideological Conflicts Peace Studies

Multidisciplinary approach to understanding conflict dynamics, resolution mechanisms, peacebuilding strategies, and post-conflict reconstruction processes.

Human Security & Environmental Challenges

Climate Change Cross-Border Migration Human Security Disaster Management

Investigation of non-traditional security threats including climate-induced challenges, migration patterns, humanitarian crises, and disaster risk management.

Maritime & Coastal Security

Maritime Security Coastal Security Blue Economy Naval Strategy

Comprehensive study of maritime domain awareness, coastal vulnerability assessment, naval strategic planning, and economic security in marine environments.

War & Warfare Studies

War Studies Warfare Evolution Military History Strategic Analysis

Historical and contemporary analysis of warfare patterns, military innovations, strategic thought evolution, and lessons from global military conflicts.

Technology & Cyber Security

GIS Studies Modeling Studies Cybersecurity Space Security

Advanced research in geospatial technologies, computational modeling, cyber warfare capabilities, and space-based security applications for national defense.

Latest Research Publications

Our faculty members are actively engaged in cutting-edge research and regularly publish their findings in prestigious national and international journals, books, and conference proceedings. Here are our most recent publications that advance knowledge in security studies, strategic technologies, cybersecurity, and maritime security.

Journal Article
2025
Use of drones in Indo-Pak cross border terrorism: Challenges, regulations and evolving responses

Ankit Kumar, Arun Vishwanathan

Journal Article
2025
Race for critical minerals: China’s ambitions and challenges

Ankit Kumar, Arun Vishwanathan

Journal Article
2024
NEFA and the 1962 War: Role of Local Inhabitants in the War Effort

N MOHAN DAS

Journal Article
2022
Dynamic insurgencies and peace nuances in India’s northeast region

Anns George K G, Sanjay Kumar Jha

Research Projects and Consultancies

Our faculty members are actively engaged in cutting-edge research projects and consultancies with government agencies, international organizations, and industry partners. These collaborative endeavors demonstrate our commitment to translating academic research into practical solutions for national security challenges.

Completed Research Projects

Completed
2022-2024
Exploring Issues, Vulnerabilities and Challenges of India’s Coastal Security Ecosystem: A Study of Gujarat

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mansi Singh

Funding Agency: ICSSR
Grant Amount: β‚Ή7,50,000

Completed
2023-2025
contemporary and future force structure for Internal Security Operations in India

Principal Investigator: Prof. Sanjay K Jha

Funding Agency: ICSSR
Grant Amount: β‚Ή14,00,000

Collaboration Opportunities

We welcome collaboration opportunities with government agencies, industry partners, and international organizations. Our multidisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art facilities make us ideal partners for cutting-edge research in national security studies.

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Laboratories

The School of National Security Studies is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities that provide students and faculty with cutting-edge technology for research, analysis, and practical learning in security studies and strategic technologies.

GIS & HPC Laboratory
Advanced Computing Facility

Geographic Information System (GIS) & High Power Computing (HPC) Laboratory

State-of-the-Art Facility
Geographic Information System (GIS)

The GIS facility is a system/tool used for mapping and analysing any activity that has relevance from a geographical point of view. GIS tools can be used to map activities like terrorism, criminal activities, coastal security, spread of pandemics like the COVID-19, border management and many other security-related issues. The lab also holds a data centre with advanced analytical software for study on various dimensions of national security.

High Performance Computing (HPC)

The HPC is a state-of-the-art facility for modelling and simulation, Big data analysis, and programming for Cyber and Space security projects. The lab caters to the hands-on practice needs for subjects like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and C/C++ programming that have been incorporated in the academic curriculum.

Key Features & Applications:
Security Threat Mapping
Big Data Analysis
AI & Machine Learning
Space Security Projects
Pandemic Tracking
Border Management
Academic Integration: Training in GIS tools and techniques have been incorporated in the academic curriculum, providing students with practical experience in cutting-edge geospatial and computational technologies.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the School of National Security Studies are well-prepared for diverse career paths in security, policy analysis, research, and strategic planning. Our comprehensive curriculum and practical training open doors to exciting opportunities across various sectors.

Teaching in Colleges and Universities

Pursue academic careers in higher education institutions, teaching courses in international relations, security studies, political science, and strategic studies.

Civil Service and Competitive Examinations

Excel in civil services examinations (UPSC, State PSCs) and join government departments in foreign affairs, defense, intelligence, and public administration.

Research Analyst in Think-Tanks and Research Institutes

Work with prestigious research organizations, policy institutes, and think tanks conducting strategic research and policy analysis.

Political Risk and Conflict Risk Analysis in Private Sector

Join multinational corporations, consulting firms, and financial institutions as risk analysts assessing geopolitical and security threats.

Advocacy and Consultancy Groups

Work with NGOs, advocacy organizations, and consultancy firms focusing on security policy, conflict resolution, and strategic planning.

Journalism (Print, Online and Electronic Media)

Become specialized journalists covering defense, security, foreign affairs, and strategic issues across various media platforms.