Conducted by University of Pune
(AS THE STATE AGENCY)
SYLLABUS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS - Defence & Strategic Studies
Subject Subject Code No.
SET (Defence & Strategic Studies) / 3
defence & strat studies_SET syllabus (03-09)
[16] : DEFENCE AND STRATEGIC STUDIES
SYLLABUS
NOTE : STRUCTURE OF PAPER II AND REVISED STRUCTURE OF PAPER III PLEASE
SEE PAGE NUMBER ONE.
Unit—I
THEORIES AND CONCEPTS
1. Defence and Strategic Studies : Assumptions and Approaches.
2. (a) The concepts of Nation. State and Nation-State, (b) Theories and elements of State,
(c) National Power and its components.
3. (A) Key concepts of security (a) National Security, (b) Regional Security, (c) Comprehensive
Security, (d) Common Security, (e) Equal Security.
(B) National Security objectives : Core values, National interests.
(C) Challenges to Security : Individual. Sub-National : National. Regional and International
levels.
4. Non-Alignment. Balance of Power. Collective Security and Balance of Terror concept,
development and relevance.
5. Concepts of Geopolitics and Geo-strategy : Theories of Halford Mackinder and Carl Haushofer.
6. Defence and Security Policies : Concept, formulation, objectives and linkages.
7. National Security Organizations in India : (a) Higher Defence Structure in India, (b) National
Security Council, (c) Para-military and civil defence, (d) Civil-military relations.
8. Deterrence and Detente : Concept, Theories of nuclear deterrence and their current relevance.
9. Contribution to strategic thought by Kautilya, Mao, Jomini, Clausewitz, Douhet and Alfred
Mahan.
Unit—II
PROBLEMS OF PEACE & SECURITY
1. War : (a) Theories and causes of war, (b) Principles of war, (c) Contemporary warfare :
Conventional Warfare in Nuclear age, Limited war, Revolutionary warfare, Low Intensity
Operations, Guerilla warfare, Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency.
2. Armaments : Arms race, Arms Aid, Arms Trade, Arms Proliferation.
3. Military alliances and pacts, Peace treaties, Defence cooperation, strategic partnership and
security dialogue.
4. Problem of system of Governance and Human Rights.
5. Terrorism : Concept and kinds (National, International and Cross border).
6. Conflicting Ideologies : Militarism, Nationalism, Fundamentalism, Separatism, Irredentism.
7. Nuclear Proliferation & NPT, CTBT, MTCR, NMD.
8. Industrial Military Complex.
SET (Defence & Strategic Studies) / 4
defence & strat studies_SET syllabus (03-09)
Unit—III
GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUES
1. End of cold war and emergence of new world order.
2. Military, nuclear and missile capabilities of China, Pakistan and India.
3. Re-structuring of UN.
4. Environmental issues : Global warming, Desertification, Acid rains, Industrial pollution,
Deforestation.
5. Military Geography & Defence problems : Nature of boundaries, terrain :
(a) Sino-Indian and Indo-Pak border disputes and India's Continental Strategy with her
neighbours, (b) Sri Lankan Ethnic Conflict, (c) Domestic unrest in Afghanistan, (d) West-
Asian Crisis, (e) Developments in Central Asian Republics, (f) Ethnic issues in Yugoslavia,
(g) Crisis in Chechenia.
6. Organized Crimes : Money Laundering, Narco-trafficking.
7. Militarisation of Indian Ocean and India's national, maritime and security interests in the
Indian Ocean region. India's Maritime Strategy for the 21st Century.
8. Issues of Logistics : Resources, Supply chain, Transportation and Communication.
9. Problems of refugees : (a) Causes of migration, (b) Population in border areas and border
security.
Unit—IV
ISSUES IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION
1. Origin, type and structure of conflict at inter-state level.
2. Images, belief systems and International conflicts.
3. Techniques of conflict prevention.
4. Conflict management : Pacific solution of International Disputes, Coercive methods and war
as an instrument.
5. International Humanitarian Laws and Laws of Armed Conflicts.
6. Confidence Building Measures : Concept, kinds and utility.
7. IGOs & NGOs in conflict resolution : Peace making, Peace keeping and Peace building.
8. Techniques of preservation of peace : Collective security system, Pacific settlement,
Enforcement action, Regional Security arrangements, Disarmament.
Unit—V
ECONOMIC, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ISSUES AND NATIONAL SECURITY
1. Broad survey of technological changes from industrial revolution to inform action revolution.
2. Economic Theories of Defence.
3. (a) Basics of Defence Planning, (b) Determinants of Defence expenditure and Defence
budgeting.
SET (Defence & Strategic Studies) / 5
defence & strat studies_SET syllabus (03-09)
4. National Security and International Trade regimes (WTO, TRIPS, TRIMS, NAFTA, SAPTA).
5. (a) India's nuclear and space power programmes, (b) India's energy scenario.
6. Research and Development : (a) Relevance of science and technology in National security,
(b) Impact of information technology : Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), (c) Choice of
Weapon systems.
7. Impact of economic liberalization and globalization : (a) Defence production in India (Role
of DPSU's and Ordnance factories), (b) Defence and development and peace and development
dichotomies.
8. Issues of mobilization of resources during war and peace.
9. Transfer of technology : Dual use and critical technologies and their impact of national
security.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Defence and Strategic Studies
Paper II
1. Equal security :
( i ) is a product of 1972 US-USSR agreement (SALT).
( ii) seeks to respect each other's legitimate interests.
(iii) is based on the principle of collective security.
(iv) is based on the principle of balance of power.
(A) Only (i) and (ii) are correct (B) Only (ii) and (iv) are correct
(C) Only (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct (D) Only (i), (ii) and (iv) are correct
2. The treaty which is considered as a landmark in making nation-state an actor in international
relations is :
(A) Treaty of Westphalia (B) Treaty of Versailles
(C) Treaty of Rome (D) Treaty of Serves
———— For details visit : http://setexam.unipune.ac.in/SubjectSyllabus.html
UNIVERSITY OF PUNE
Ganeshkhind, Pune-411007
Maharashtra State Eligibility Test for Lectureship
