New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) The cabinet Thursday sanctioned Rs.295 crore for establishing an Indian National Defence University (INDU) to create synergy between existing institutes of learning in the sector and address strategic security challenges.

"The union cabinet has accorded in-principle approval for setting up of INDU as a fully autonomous institution to be constituted under an act of parliament at an estimated cost of Rs.295 crore," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters after a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The cabinet also accorded approval for acquisition of 200 acres of land at Binola in Haryana's Gurgaon district for the proposed site of INDU at an estimated cost of Rs.100 crore, Soni added.

"INDU will undertake long-term defence and strategic studies and create synergy between the academic community and government functionaries," the minister said.

"It will promote policy oriented research on all aspects relating to national security as an input to strategic national policy making.

"It will encourage awareness of national security issues by reaching out to scholars and an audience beyond the official machinery.

"INDU will also educate national security leaders on aspects of national security strategy, national military strategy, national information strategy and national technology strategy through teaching and research," Soni added.

The establishment of INDU was one of the recommendations made by a committee headed by eminent security analyst K. Subrahmaniam after the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan.