KATHMANDU: India’s National Defense College (NDC) has decided to increase seats by 20 for neighboring countries, including Nepal, bringing the total to 120 by 2022; Indian Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar has said.

According to Kumar, India has increased allocation to neighboring countries, including Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Tajikistan, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Maldives will also get new seats, reports have said.

The decision to this effect has been made considering the demand from friendly foreign countries for quite some time, according to Kumar.

The NDC in New Delhi offers strategic courses for officers of the Indian Armed forces and the civil services.

It currently takes around 100 participants for the strategic leadership course. Among them, 25 are from friendly foreign countries.