Posted On:
02 NOV 2026 4:25PM by PIB Ahmedabad
Guided by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which places capacity-building, institutional cooperation and knowledge exchange at the heart of international engagement, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), an Institution of National Importance, has commenced a month-long capacity-building initiative in Fiji. The initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Service, Government of Fiji, with the support of the High Commission of India in Fiji.
Comprising three specialised programmes in international law and security, psychological well-being, and cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, the initiative seeks to strengthen professional competencies, enhance institutional preparedness and foster enduring linkages between India, Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Mr. Luke Rokovada, Chairman, Public Service Commission of Fiji; Shri Suneet Mehta, High Commissioner of India to Fiji; Mr. Pita Tagicakirewa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Civil Service, Government of Fiji and Dr. Bimal N Patel, Vice-Chancellor, RRU (virtually). The initiative envisages the participation of approximately 180 officials from nine countries, including Fiji.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Luke Rokovada, Chairman, Public Service Commission of Fiji, acknowledged India's longstanding contribution to Fiji's human resource development and institutional capacity-building, recognising India as Fiji's largest capacity-building partner. He appreciated Rashtriya Raksha University's efforts in extending specialised training opportunities to Fiji and other Pacific Island countries and underscored the significance of such initiatives in strengthening professional competencies, institutional effectiveness and bilateral cooperation.
Shri Suneet Mehta, High Commissioner of India to Fiji, underscored the importance of sustained and substantive engagement with Pacific Island countries as a significant dimension of India's international cooperation. He highlighted Rashtriya Raksha University's contribution to advancing India's commitment to the Pacific, particularly Fiji, through specialised education, professional training and institutional capacity-building. He further emphasised that such initiatives provide a meaningful avenue for translating diplomatic goodwill into enduring institutional partnerships, knowledge exchange and people-to-people connections.
Addressing the gathering, H.E. Judge Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University and Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), emphasised the imperative of bridging the gap between international legal frameworks and their effective application by public institutions.
He stated, “My work across international legal diplomacy, scholarship and education has strengthened a simple conviction: international law serves people best when public institutions have the knowledge to put it into practice. As Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University and a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, I attach particular value to strengthening that knowledge.”
Three Specialised Programmes for Regional Capacity-Building
The month-long initiative has been conceptualised to address three complementary dimensions of contemporary institutional and security preparedness, encompassing legal understanding, human resilience and technological capabilities.
The first programme, the 10-Day Capacity-Building Programme on Fundamentals of International Law and Security, commenced on 2 November 2026 in Fiji with 60 participants from 9 pacific countries. The programme seeks to familiarise participants with the foundational principles and contemporary developments in international law, their interface with evolving security challenges, and emerging regional and global concerns. It places particular emphasis on integrating conceptual understanding with practical insights and institutional perspectives, thereby strengthening participants' capacity to appreciate and navigate the legal dimensions of contemporary security issues.
The second programme, the Six-Day Capacity-Building Programme on Stress Management for Health and Psychological Well-being, is scheduled from 16–23 November 2026. It will focus on stress management, mindfulness, burnout prevention, psychological resilience and peer support. Recognising the distinctive vulnerabilities of Fiji, the programme will also examine the psychological ramifications of climate change, natural disasters and displacement, alongside emerging concerns relating to digital stress and the psychological well-being of personnel operating in demanding professional environments.
The third programme, the Five-Day Capacity-Building Programme on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, is scheduled from 24–30 November 2026. It aims to augment participants' technical and professional competencies in cybersecurity, cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, network security, cyber law and the responsible application of artificial intelligence. Practical demonstrations and exposure to relevant tools, technologies and techniques will constitute integral components of the programme.
Collectively, these three programmes reflect RRU's integrated approach to international capacity-building, recognising that effective institutional preparedness requires a sound understanding of legal frameworks, resilient human resources and the ability to respond to rapidly evolving technological challenges.
RRU's Contribution to Global Capacity-Building
Rashtriya Raksha University has emerged as an important institutional contributor to India's global capacity-building initiatives through specialised academic programmes and professional training for law-enforcement and security personnel.
In collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, RRU has imparted specialised training to more than 3,200 law-enforcement officials from 94 partner countries in diverse domains, including forensics, cyber education and policing.
Furthermore, 52 students from 18 countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Oceania are currently pursuing the University's regular two-year Master's programmes designed for law-enforcement professionals. These initiatives have facilitated the development of specialised professional competencies while fostering international knowledge exchange, cross-cultural learning and enduring institutional relationships.
Through its sustained engagement with Fiji and other Pacific Island countries, RRU seeks to expand this institutional outreach and explore further avenues of cooperation in areas of shared interest, including international law, maritime security, policing, disaster management, cybersecurity, defence studies and professional education.
The initiative represents a tangible contribution towards advancing India's commitment to its Pacific partners through knowledge-sharing, human resource development and institutional cooperation, in keeping with the broader vision of MAHASAGAR.