Centre for Inner Asian Studies
The Centre for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University is engaged in teaching and research on the whole of Central Asia, that is the five Central Asian Republics of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan; Tibet and Xinjiang regions of China; Mongolia and Afghanistan, as was being done by the erstwhile Central Asian Studies Programme, Centre for South, Central, Southeast Asian Studies and Southwest Pacific Studies from the beginning. Over the years, this Programme has evolved as the advanced Center of Central Asian Studies in India and is known for its excellent research work and publications both at the national and international level. This academic programme has not only helped in sensitizing Indian public and official opinion about the important developments taking place in Central Asia, but also has contributed to strengthen Indian cultural ties with its extended neighbourhood in Central Asia. Keeping in view its contribution, University Grants Commission accorded in 2001 the status of Area Studies Programme to this Programme. The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India started in 2007 its scheme for the attachment of three visiting scholars from Central Asian Republics at this Programme, for each Semester (that is for a period of six months) on a regular basis. The university has also allocated accommodation for hosting these visiting scholars from the Central Asian Republics, on a regular basis. All the academic activities including teaching and research have been designed to study and analyze history, politics, society, economy, geopolitics of energy and transport networks, besides the contemporary developments in Central Asia, Chinese Central Asia, Afghanistan and Mongolia, and relate them to Indian experience and policy.
Since 1987, more than 120 M.Phil and 85 Ph.D research scholars have been engaged in research in Central Asian Studies. Whereas 100 M.Phil and 53 Ph.D. scholars have been awarded their degrees, 20 M.Phils and 32 Ph.Ds are in progress. Obviously, there is increasing interest amongst the students and the scholars in general in the research programmes offered. As such the Centre for inner Asian Studies is striving to develop itself into a centre of academic excellence so far as the above mentioned areas are concerned.
