IIT-Ropar and the Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 10 September 2026 for an MTech degree programme in Defence Technology for Indian Army officers. The agreement provides academic accreditation for officers undergoing the Long Air Defence Course at Gopalpur and links military training with formal postgraduate study.
Memorandum of Agreement and Academic Linkage
The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT-Ropar, and Lt. Gen. Amit Rao, Commandant of the Army Air Defence College. The programme is connected to an earlier Memorandum of Understanding on academic and research cooperation between the Army Training Command and IIT-Ropar, which was established in December 2022.
Programme Features
Under the agreement, Army officers will receive an MTech degree in Defence Technology. IIT-Ropar faculty members will serve as mentors for dissertations and research work. The enrolled officers will also use IIT-Ropar laboratory facilities and attend seminars in online and offline formats.
Institutional Background
IIT-Ropar is one of the Indian Institutes of Technology established under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961. The Army Air Defence College at Gopalpur is a training institution of the Indian Army that conducts the Long Air Defence Course for officers of the Army Air Defence branch.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Indian Institutes of Technology are institutions of national importance under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961.
- Defence Technology is an interdisciplinary field that includes electronics, materials, systems engineering, and weapons-related research.
- The Army Air Defence branch of the Indian Army deals with protection against aerial threats.
- Memoranda of Agreement and Memoranda of Understanding are common instruments for academic and institutional cooperation in India.
Research and Training Cooperation
The Defence Research and Innovation Foundation (DRIF) is associated with IIT-Ropar’s defence research activities. The agreement was coordinated by Dr. Sarang Gumfekar, Dean (PG and Research) at IIT-Ropar, and Virbhadra Singh Rawat, Director of DRIF.
