Maj Gen (Dr) Pawan Anand, AVSM (Retd) was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers, earning prestigious accolades during his training. He was awarded the President’s Gold Medal at the National Defence Academy (NDA) for being First in Order of Merit and later received the Sword of Honour at the Indian Military Academy (IMA). Over an illustrious career, General Anand commanded an Armoured Engineer Regiment, an Engineer Brigade in a Strike Corps, and served as the Chief Engineer of the South Western Command. During the Kargil War, he controlled operations as the Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and later served as a principal staff officer in a Counter-Insurgency Force. His instructional tenures include assignments at the IMA and the College of Military Engineering. General Anand was selected for several prestigious professional courses, including the Defence Services Staff Course (DSSC), the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC), and the National Defence College (NDC). He has extensive experience in domestic and foreign defence procurement, holding three key appointments in this domain, and has represented India in numerous international delegations and defence cooperation conferences, engaging with 17 countries. Academically, he is a Mechanical Engineer, holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies and Defence Management, and earned a Doctorate in General Management, focusing on the indigenisation of the defence industry. Post-retirement, General Anand served as the Secretary General of the Highway Operators Association in the private sector. Currently, he is a Professor (PhD) and Mentor at the National Defence College, and as Director of the Centre for Emerging Technologies for Atma Nirbhar Bharat (USI-CETANB), he works at the intersection of geopolitics and emerging technologies, driving initiatives to promote self-reliance in the defence sector.

Brig Vivek Verma is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Brigadier Vivek Verma (Retd) was commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in 1989. He has over three decades of active service experience across all terrain and operations. He commanded an artillery regiment along Northern Borders and commanded a Divisional and Corps Artillery Brigades along active LC and Counter-Terrorism environment in J&K. He was a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade during Operation Parakram and was Colonel General Staff of Operations of an Infantry Division. He has been an Artillery Advisor to the Botswana Defence Forces as part of the Indian Army Training Team. He was closely associated with youth affairs as Group Commander of NCC. He superannuated as Deputy Managing Director (Administration) at the Army Welfare Housing Organisation in 2024. A keen China observer, he holds two Master's degrees- Weapons Technology from Pune University and Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University, Chennai. He completed a Master of Philosophy from Panjab University, Chandigarh and is currently pursuing his doctorate from Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on Non-Contact Warfare. He completed his National Development Course at the National Defence University, Beidou, Taiwan. He had been closely associated with the reports on issues of strategic significance as the Deputy Director at the Indian Army Think Tank, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi and Director of Land Warfare Systems at the Perspective Planning Branch of the Indian Army Headquarters.

He has authored a book titled “Non-Contact Warfare—An Appraisal of China’s Military Capabilities,” which explores China's military capabilities to deal with the new paradigm of Non-Contact Warfare. He has also published scores of researched articles related to Non-Contact Warfare and Emerging Technologies with various think tanks. Brigadier Vivek Verma is currently the Senior Research Fellow at the United Services Institute of India and is associated with Non-Contact Warfare and Emerging Technologies study at the Centre of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

Col Ravinder Kumar Sharma (Retd) Assistant Director was commissioned in Corps of Engineers (Bombay Sappers) after passing out from OTA Chennai on 20 Aug 1988. The Officer joined an Engineer Regiment at Nimu (J&K) and was deployed in Siachen Glacier and Kargil Sector. The Officer is B Tech in Electrical Engineering, and graduate of DSSC Wellington. He Commanded an Engineer Regiment in high-altitude including Eastern and Western Ladakh. The Officer also tenanted the appointment of Commander Works Engineer with Air Force. He has good understanding of counterinsurgency operations and high-altitude operations. The Officer has been part of High-power team for procurement and training of experts abroad. He had been deputy leader of border personnel meeting with China in eastern Ladakh on two occasions. The Officer has been awarded GOC-in-C, Southern Command Commendation Card, GOC-in-C, Northern Command Commendation Card and VCOAS Commendation Card.

Manasvi is a graduate with a BA Hons in Political Science from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. Throughout her academic journey, she has focused on a variety of critical global topics, with particular emphasis on the responsible use of AI in the military domain and the India-Australia partnership in the Indo-Pacific, topics she worked on as a research intern at the United Service Institution (USI). Her research and hands-on experience during the internship have allowed her to explore contemporary geopolitical dynamics and the evolving role of technology in security policy. Manasvi aspires to pursue her master’s in International Relations, aiming to deepen her understanding of global politics and contribute to meaningful discussions on international cooperation, security, and diplomacy.

Scholars on Study Leave

Gp Capt Saminjay Kumar was commissioned in Indian Air Force on 28 Nov 1994 in Aeronautical Engineering Electronics Branch.  He is an engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from National Institute of Engineering Mysore. He did his Master of Engineering in Guided Missiles from DIAT Pune. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College Wellington.  During his career in Indian Air Force, he has worked on various Radars, Communication and IT systems in IAF. His appointments include, Chief Technical Officer in Radar Signal Unit, Senior Engineer at Base Repair Depot, Joint Director in Electronic Maintenance Management System (e-MMS) Project and Staff Coordinating Officer to ACAS Operations Communication & IT at Air HQ.  He also had a posting tenure in Sri Lanka for Project Op Dristi.  Presently, he is pursuing research on “Realisation of aim of Atma Nirbhar Bharat in Defence Sector” at USI, New Delhi 

Col Vijay Goyat was commissioned in Corps of Engineers in Dec 1997. An alumnus of NDA Khadakwasla, his educational qualifications include B Tech, MSc (Def Tech) and MBA. The Officer has served in varied terrain pan India. He commanded an Engineer Regt in Desert and North East Sector and Engineer Stores Depot at Delhi Cantt. His staff appointments include GSO1 in Army HQs and Col GS(IS) in a Corps. The Officer has rich experience of construction of strategic infrastructure in North East and Eastern Ladakh. The Officer was a Mil Observer in Ivory Coast during the critical phase on 2009-10. The Officer has been awarded COAS Commendation Card thrice and CISC commendation Card once during his service so far.