First convocation ceremony of project Gyandeep held in Army Air Defence College

First convocation ceremony of project Gyandeep of ‘Army Air Defence' was held at the Army Air Defence College (AADC), near Berhampur.

Associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates of merit were awarded to 521 serving soldiers of ‘Army Air Defence College' during the ceremony by Lt. Gen Kuldip Singh, commandant of the AADC. For project Gyandeep, Indian army and Indira Gandhi National Open University had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). It was aimed at empowering the soldiers through education and to provide them opportunity for second career option. This project also provides recognition to the education undertaken by a soldier during his service in the army. The MoU with IGNOU also enables educational certification of soldiers within the parameters laid down for community colleges. It also recognizes the in-service training taken up by the soldiers. All regimental centres of Indian Army have been registered as community colleges under Project Gyandeep.

These Army-IGNOU community colleges including the one at AADC function as autonomous bodies. In 1979, Government of India sanctioned the establishment of Air Defence and Guided Missile School and Centre at Gopalpur, which was inaugurated on Oct 30, 1984 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This school became fully functional in November 1989. This institute has now been rechristened AADC. Majority of the medium and short range weapons used for air defence by the Indian army including surface to air missiles are fired at the firing range of the AADC.

Courtesy: The Hindu