Union Minister Nityanand Rai told in the Rajya Sabha that no proposal has been received from the state government to open the campus of National Defense University (RRU) in West Bengal. However, police officers are being trained at the Kolkata Police Academy.
Centre’s response on Defense University in Bengal
New Delhi [भारत]July 29 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Wednesday said that no proposal has been received from the West Bengal government regarding setting up a campus of National Defense University (RRU) in the state. Along with this, he also highlighted the Centre’s measures to deal with urban flooding in Kolkata and other major cities.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Rai said the decision to set up new campuses of the National Defense University across the country is based on the institutional needs of the different campuses and the availability of infrastructure for the university. “No proposal has been received from the state government regarding setting up a campus of the National Defense University (RRU) in West Bengal. The decision to set up new campuses for the National Defense University in the country is based on the institutional needs of the various campuses and the availability of infrastructure for the university,” Rai said in Parliament.
“However, RRU is conducting training programs on cyber crime investigation for West Bengal Police officers at the Kolkata Police Academy,” the Minister of State for Home said. The reply came to a question asking whether the government has received any demand or proposal to set up an RRU campus in West Bengal, given the strategic importance of the state and its international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and whether the Center has any such plan.
Measures to deal with urban floods
Further, on measures to tackle urban floods, Rai said the Fifteenth Finance Commission in its report had recommended allocation of Rs 500 crore each from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to create integrated solutions for flood management. It had also recommended allocation of Rs 250 crore each for Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune for urban flood prevention.
The Central Government has approved the proposals of these seven cities under the Urban Flood Risk Management Program (UFRMP) with a total financial outlay of Rs 3,075.65 crore, which includes Rs 2,482.62 crore as the central share from the NDMF. Projects and activities under the program include both structural and non-structural interventions aimed at reducing the risk of urban flooding in these cities, including Hyderabad. As per the approval, funds are to be released in three installments of 30 per cent, 40 per cent and 30 per cent of the total approved amount.
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honor (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the monsoon session of Parliament, which seeks to make any obstruction or insult to the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ a criminal offence.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till 11:00 am on 30 July. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)