Visiting Faculty

Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, retired from the Indian Army on 31 July 2017 as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Army. He was responsible for the border defence with four countries, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, as also the military response to the Doklam incident on Sikkim border with China. He was commissioned into Skinner’s Horse and is a graduate of the National Defence College. He had a foreign tenure in Tanzania and is an alumnus of Asia Pacific Centre for Strategic Studies, Hawaii. Currently he is Board of Directors of two Companies, is accredited as a Distinguished Fellow with USI and is a member of Marshall Goldsmith MG 25 (India).

Lt Gen Balbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM,VSM (Retd)

Lt Gen Balbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM,VSM (Retd) was commissioned into Army Service Corps in December 1978 and superannuated in April 2017 as Director General of Supplies and Transport (DGST). He also held the appointment of Director General of Information Technology of Indian Army. He is an alumnus of DSSC and NDC. Post retirement, he participates in seminars and writes for strategic think tanks such as CLAWS, USI and CENJOWS. He has submitted his thesis for PhD on North East India. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM (Retd)

Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu, PVSM,UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, ADC(Retd) is a retired Indian Army General who served as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). He was commissioned into 14th Sikh Light Infantry on 7 June 1980 and has a vast experience in Siachen Glacier; Counter-Insurgency Operations in Kashmir and Manipur, Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. He has also been awarded the Sena Medal for Operation Meghdoot, Yudh Seva Medal (2010) for command of 53 Infantry brigade, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for the command of 17 Mountain division, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (2016) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2017) for his service as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, PVSM, AVSM & Bar, YSM, SM (Retd)

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh (Retd) was commissioned into the Army on 13 Dec 1980. He was the Former Army Commander Northern Command, Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Director General of Military Operations. He has done his M.Sc from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; M Phil in Defence and Management Studies from Army War College, Mhow; M Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from National Defence College, New Delhi and MA from King’s College London. He has also recently completed his PhD in Disaster Management. An expert in Counter Insurgency operations, Military Strategy, Operational Art and Information Operations, he has held extremely important Command, Instructional and Staff appointments including UN assignments in Rwanda and Sudan. He was responsible for planning and execution of surgical strikes against terrorists in Myanmar in 2015 and POK in 2016. He was also at the helm of affairs in Northern Command during the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A in J&K and Ladakh. He is currently Distinguished Fellow with USI, CLAWS and VIF.

Lt Gen PJS Pannu, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Lt Gen PJS Pannu, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) is a former Deputy Chief Indian Integrated Defence Staff (Operations), responsible for coordinating military operations of the three services. He was responsible for raising the Defence Space and Cyber Agencies, as well as the Special Forces Division. He commanded 14 Corps in Ladakh in 2016-17 and an Infantry Division on the LAC (McMahon Line) in Arunachal Pradesh in 2013-14. He commanded the Uri Brigade in 2008-10 and also an Infantry Battalion at Uri in 1999-2000. He served three tenures in the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters and on two UN missions, Mozambique and Sudan both as Chief Operations Officer. He was Chairman of National War Memorial. He is pursuing a PhD in Indigenisation of Defence Industry. He is the head of the Military History and Strategy vertical and a member of the Board of The Valley of Words foundation and a distinguished fellow at the USI, India.

Lt Gen Iqbal Singh Singha, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Lt Gen Iqbal Singh Singha AVSM, VSM (Retd) is presently working as Director with TAC Security, a leading global cyber security company. He regularly writes for USI and e-magazines like lokmarg.com and news18.com on strategic issues and international relations. General Singha has acted in several OTT series like Avrodh, Regimental Diaries, General and his Son and A General Retires. He is an advisor on military matters to Pocket Aces. A peacekeeping and negotiations expert, as Head of the Mission at Golan Heights in Syria, he has saved nearly 200 lives of peacekeepers and journalists. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar PVSM, AVSM, VSM,(Retd)

Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar PVSM, AVSM, VSM,(Retd) superannuated in May 2020 as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, before which he was the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery where he gained operational experience during command tenures on the Line of Control, Counter Insurgency Force (R) and the Desert Corps. He also served with UN Peacekeeping missions in Mozambique and Rwanda. He is an alumnus of the Delhi University, DSSC Wellington, AWC Mhow, NDC Philippines and NDC New Delhi. Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Lt Gen Vinod G Khandare, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd)

Lt Gen Vinod G Khandare, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd) was the Military Adviser at National Security Council Secretariat PMO. His last appointment in active military service was Director General Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence) from Nov 2015-Jan 2018. He has been in active service in High Altitude Areas along the LAC, including at Doklam opposite China; on Siachen Glacier; during 1999 Indo Pak Conflict in Naushera Sector along LOC; in Counter terrorism operations in Kashmir and North East India. As Military Adviser for three years he was at the decision-making processes for national security and international engagements.

Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Lt General Shakti Gurung, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) is an alumnus of NDA Khadakvasla and IMA Dehradun and was commissioned into The GRENADIERS in June 1975. During his career spanning forty years, he held important command and staff appointments in the Army and has also served abroad as India’s Defence Attache’ in Myanmar from May 2000 to Dec 2003. The staff and instructional appointments he has held are – Instructor at The Infantry School Mhow, Brigade Major in a Holding RAPID, Secretary Chiefs of Staff Committee HQ IDS, Additional MS Army HQ, DG Recruiting Army HQ, and the Military Secretary Army HQ. Among his command appointments, he has commanded a brigade along the line of control in the Kashmir Valley, has been General Officer Commanding of a Mountain Division in Manipur, and General Officer Commanding Corps in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. He is a PSC and has attended the Higher Command Course at Mhow and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He is an MPhil in Military and Strategic Studies, is settled in Dehradun and is actively involved in speaking and writing on strategic and security affairs.

Lt Gen (Dr) Ravindra Singh Panwar, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd)

Lt Gen (Dr) R S Panwar (Retd) was commissioned into the Corps of Signals in 1976. He has commanded two logistics formations, an electronic warfare brigade and an armoured division signal regiment, as also the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering. He is a graduate of the National Defence College and holds a master’s degree in management from the Osmania University. He has the distinction of being awarded a doctoral degree in computer science as well as the coveted Distinguished Alumnus Award by IIT Bombay, the first defence officer to hold such an honour. He is presently engaged in evolving strategic thought in the areas of information operations, network centric warfare and emerging disruptive technologies.

Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan AVSM, SM (Retd)**

Lieutenant General Sukhdeep Sangwan AVSM, SM**(Retd) superannuated on 31 May 2021 as Director General of the oldest Para Military Force, the Assam Rifles. An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, College of Defence Management, and National Defence College, he was the Founder Editor of “SYNERGY”, published by Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, New Delhi. The General had authored a book, “Integrated Force Projection by India” and was associated with another one on “Comprehensive National Power” published by CENJOWS. His latest Poetry collection titled “Random Thoughts” was launched in January 2021. The General has also composed lyrics of some of the promotional videos, the most popular being “Ae Hind ki Sena Naman Tujhe”.

Lt Gen AK Bhatt, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VM, VSM (Retd)

Lt. Gen AK Bhatt (Retd) has held apex leadership and management positions in the Indian Army at the Army Headquarters in the Indian Defence services for over 38 years. Among his many appointments, he has been Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief of Army Staff twice, while serving in the capacity of Military Secretary, responsible for HR management in the Army and as Director General Military Operations (DGMO) heading the Military Operation in the Army. General Bhatt has been the recipient of several awards from the Government of India. The most recent include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2021) and other prestigious recognitions such as Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishist Seva Medal (2015), Sena Medal (2014), Vishist Seva Medal (2012), Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card (2008) for his dedicated service to the nation. General Bhatt has a Masters in Management Studies from Osmania University and an M. Phil in Defence & Strategic Studies from the prestigious Madras University in Chennai. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd.) is the Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), an apex industry body created to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow, United Services Institution of India.

Lt Gen Raj Shukla, PVSM,YSM, SM (Retd)

Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM (Retd) was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Army Training Command (GOC-in-C ARTRAC). He has commanded a Medium Regiment in the Eastern Theatre as part of a Mountain Division. He later took the regiment to the Desert as part of a Strike Corps. He has also commanded an Infantry Brigade in Counter Insurgency operations and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, along the Line of Control. On 5 July 2018, he took over the command of the X Corps at Bhatinda. In his staff appointments, he has served as the General Staff Officer, Grade I (GSO-I) of an Infantry Division, as well as two tenures in the Military Operations directorate at Army Headquarters. He has also served in instructional appointments in the School of Artillery and the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan. He has been the Director General Perspective Planning (DGPP) at Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. He has been a Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and a visiting fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. He is also a qualified aviator. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow, United Services Institution of India.

Lieutenant General Ghanshyam Singh Katoch, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Lieutenant General Ghanshyam Singh Katoch, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) has held a number of prestigious Command and Staff appointments in his Service. He has a Bachelor’s degree from JNU, New Delhi, two Masters Degrees, one in Defence & Strategic Studies from Madras University and the other in Defence Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA and an M.Phil degree in Defence & Strategic Studies from Devi Ahliyabai University, Indore. He has commanded an Infantry Battalion on the Line of Control. A Brigade in Counterinsurgency in Kashmir Valley, a Division on the LAC, and a Corps in the Desert Sector of Rajasthan/Gujarat. He retired in March 2016 from the Indian Army as the Director General Strategic Planning after 39 years of Service. Post retirement he worked as the Director of the Centre for Anti-Terrorism Studies at the National Security Guard, Manesar. He is a Council Member of the United Service Institute of India and an Associate Member of the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis. He writes and speaks on security and defence subjects. He has had the experience of visiting a number of Defence establishments in USA, Germany, Belgium. Egypt, Myanmar, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Maj Gen (Dr) GG Dwivedi, SM, VSM and Bar (Retd)

Maj Gen (Dr) GG Dwivedi, SM, VSM & Bar superannuated as ‘Assistant Chief Integrated Defence Staff ‘(Strategic) after a distinguished career spanning over 38 years. A veteran of 1971 Bangladesh War, he later commanded Battalion in Siachen and Formations amidst intense operational environment. He was a faculty at ‘Defence Services Staff College’ Wellington, served as Military Attaché in China, North Korea and Mongolia. A PhD from JNU in International Relations, he is an alumnus of National Defence College and Harvard Kennedy School. He was Professor and founder Chair at Aligarh Muslim University; is currently Visiting Professor at reputed universities and institutes and member of many renowned think thanks. He is a regular guest speaker at prestigious forums and appears on the national TV channels as a panelist.

Maj Gen Alok Deb, SM, VSM (Retd)

Maj Gen Alok Deb, SM, VSM (Retd) has served in the Indian Army close to four decades. He has experience of command in diverse operational areas, commencing with an artillery regiment in the Kargil War, during which he was decorated for gallantry. He is a MSc in Defence Studies from the Defence Services Staff College, India, and later earned two MPhil degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies, after qualifying the Higher Command and National Defence College courses, both in India. He has been an instructor at IMA Dehradun, Brigade Major of an infantry brigade and Col Plans of a Strike Corps. He has had two tenures in the Military Secretary’s Branch in Army HQ and has served as a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon. He has commanded an Artillery Division as part of a Strike Corps on India’s Western border and was a Senior Operational Logistics Staff in the Western Theatre. Post retirement he became the Deputy Director General of MPIDSA. He was a member of the DRDOs System Analysis and Modelling Advisory Council. He is based in Pune, he is a Distinguished Fellow at the USI of India and Senior Visiting Fellow at The Peninsula Foundation, Chennai.

Maj Gen Apurba Kumar Bardalai (Retd)

Major General (Dr) AK Bardalai (Retd) was commissioned into the Indian Army on 11 June 1977, is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College Wellington (India), and an alumnus of Tilburg University, the Netherlands. He commanded an infantry battalion in Siachen Glacier, an infantry brigade in North-East India, an infantry division in the Western Theatre, and was the Commandant of IMTRAT(Bhutan). He has served with the UN as a Military Observer in Angola and the Deputy Head of the Mission and Deputy Force Commander of UNIFIL (Lebanon). He holds a PhD in UN Peace Operations from Tilburg University.

Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College (Wellington), College of Naval Warfare (Mumbai) and National Defence College (Pretoria, South Africa). In March 2021, he was appointed as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), wherein he was closely associated with the process of theaterisation, Integrated Capability Development Plan, and numerous other tri-services initiatives. In the Flag rank, his other important assignments include Chief of Staff (Southern Naval Command), Controller Personnel Services (CPS), Chief of Staff (Eastern Naval Command), Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning & Force Development) at HQIDS and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (June 2019-February 2021). Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Vice Admiral AK Chawla

Vice Admiral AK Chawla, PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM (Retd) superannuated on 30 November 2021 as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command. He has served as the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India, Jakarta, Senior Instructor (Navy) at DSSC, Wellington, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation & Intelligence), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), Director General Naval Operations and the Chief of Personnel. He is a graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, the Naval Higher Command Course, and the National Defence College. He is a MA (Defence Studies) from London University and MPhil (Defence and Strategic Studies) from Bombay University, from where he is also currently pursuing his PhD. Highly decorated, he is a keen environmentalist and was awarded the Golden Peacock Environment Management Award in 2020. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Air Marshal Anil Khosla, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd)

Air Marshal Anil Khosla, PVSM, AVSM, VM, (Retd) is a former Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS), Indian Air Force. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the fighter stream of Indian Air Force with an experience on both Ground attack and Air Defence roles with specialization on maritime role. He is a post graduate from Defence Services Staff College. He is an A2 category flying instructor and a fighter strike leader. He has had the distinction of standing first in the order of merit in all the attended courses (i.e., Flying Instructor Course, Fighter Strike Leaders Course, Junior Command Course and Staff Course). While in Service he handled DOKLAM operation with China and BALAKOT strike against Pakistan. He is also associated with formulation of Air Force War Plans, Force structure planning and capability building. He pursued MPhil in Defence and Strategic studies and has a PhD on China. He is a Distinguished Fellow at USI and at the Centre of Air Power Studies (CAPS). He is also on the editorial board of College of Air Warfare Journal. He has worked with several think tanks and organisations.

Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd)

Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd), served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and officiated as Additional Secretary (Air) at DMA, MoD. He holds a Doctorate and a Masters in Management, and a Certified ‘A’ Project Manager by IPMA, Switzerland. He is a Distinguished Fellow at i2p2M and Certified Management Instructor by AIMA. He was appointed Command of An-32 Sqn, AOC Chandigarh, CI at fixed wing Training Faculty, WAC Ops II A, Centre Director (Aviation) NTRO and SASO, HQ SAC. Other Joint appointments were that of Secy to Union War Book, RM’s Op Directive; Member Secy to Defence Acquisition Council; Chairmen of JOCAB, SCAPCC, Integrated Space Cell of Armed Forces, TET for BMD by DRDO; Co-Chair DIATF with US for development of niche capabilities; Officiated as Chairman of DCMG and steered the projects for NFS & DCN.

Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM (Retd)

A former Commandant of the National Defence College with over 5000 operational sorties on fighters, and extensive experience in air and joint operations at strategic, operational and tactical levels. Experienced in policy formulation, doctrine and strategy development, he has led three international exercises and been a member of two defence talks. An alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies UK, a MA in Strategy and International Security from King’s College, London, an M Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies, and a PhD in airpower. He is a distinguished fellow of VIF and CAPS, and an avid scholar, writer and speaker on strategy, airpower and national security.

Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, IFS (Retd)

Ambassador Asoke Mukerji retired as India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in December 2015. In July 2018, he was awarded a Doctor of Civil Laws (honoriscausa) degree by the University of East Anglia (UK). His book “India and the United Nations: A Photo Journey 1945-2015” was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. He writes and lectures on diplomacy, geo-strategy, and cyber issues. He was an elected USI Council member (2017-2019), and is currently a Distinguished Fellow of USI, the Vivekananda International Foundation, and the Geneva/Malta-based Diplo Foundation.

Shri Jitesh Khosla, IAS (Retd)

Mr. Jitesh Khosla is a retired IAS officer and a former Chief Secretary, Assam. During his service he held many positions relating to infrastructure development in Assam and also dealt with many situations concerning internal security, insurgency and terrorism in the North East. As Chief Secretary, he was the Chairman of the Strategy Group set up to facilitate the functioning of the Joint Civil-Military Command in Assam. Post retirement, he is actively engaged on security issues in the North East. He is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the USI. He is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Administration and the National Award for e-Governance 2007-2008 among others.

Dr Sanjeev Chopra, IAS (Retd)

Dr. Sanjeev Chopra holds a PhD in Management, besides degrees in Law, History and Literature. He is the recipient of the Robert S McNamara Fellowship of the World Bank and the Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship at the University of Cornell. He was a Guest Scholar at The Brookings Institution, Washington DC. He has written extensively on policy issues in governance and development interventions in rural development, agriculture, marketing reforms, co-operatives, and farmer organizations. He has been invited to deliver lectures and talks at IIMs, ASCI, FRI, IGNFA and at symposia and conferences across the country. He has also delivered keynotes at International Cooperative Alliance conferences at Beijing, Abu Dhabi and Ho Chi Minh City. He has several books to his credit, including ‘At the Crossroads: Development Discourses in India’, ‘Agri-Matters’, ‘Ten Thousand Crores’, besides three edited volumes on Policy Colloquia on Co-operatives in the SAARC Region, and articles in leading papers like E.P.W, Mainstream, Frontier, Encounter, Millennium Post, Garhwal Postetal. He curates a Literature and Arts festival, ‘Valley of Words’ at Dehradun in November every year..

Shri Tilak Devasher

Tilak Devasher retired as Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India in October 2014. Tilak Devasher is the author of three widely acclaimed books on Pakistan: ‘Pakistan: Courting the Abyss’ (December 2016); ‘Pakistan: At the Helm’ (July 2018) and ‘Pakistan: The Balochistan Conundrum’ (July 2019). He has also edited two books for the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) titled ‘Pakistan Insights 2019’ and ‘Pakistan Insights 2020’. He is Member, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), Consultant, Vivekananda International Foundation, and Emeritus Resource Faculty at Rashtriya Raksha University. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Shri Jayanto Narayan Choudhury, IPS (Retd)

Shri Jayanto Narayan Choudhury retired as DG NSG in 2015 after 37 years in the Indian Police Service. Earlier he was DGP Assam. He has served for over 25 years in the Intelligence Bureau, mainly in North-East India and Bengal. On deputation to MEA, he has served at the Embassy of India, Washington DC. He has trained with the British Security Service and FBI. His articles have been published in international and national journals and he has spoken at different forums on police reform. Post-retirement he was an Independent Director with GAIL and Vice-President Public Health Foundation of India.

Mr.MN Reddi, IPS (Retd)

Mr MN Reddi, IPS (Retd) is a highly accomplished IPS officer. He led Karnataka Police as ADGP - Crime, L&O, Intelligence and Security. He was also the Commissioner of Police, Bangalore City. He has deep and varied experience in Internal Security and has dealt with high profile terror and fugitive cases having internatianal ramifications. He has architected Disaster Management as an integral part of the internal security apparatus, in the context of growing natural and man-made threats. He was trained at the National Police Academy, IIM-Ahmedabad and London Business School. DGP Reddi was decorated with President's Medals for Meritorious and Distinguished Police Service.

Professor Bharat Karnad

Professor Bharat Karnad is Emeritus Professor for National Security Studies at the Centre for Policy Research and a Distinguished Fellow at USI. He is the author of many books, including ‘Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India’s Global Ambition’ (2018), ‘Why India is Not a Great Power (Yet)’, 2015, ‘India’s Nuclear Policy’ (2008), and ‘Nuclear Weapons and Indian Security’ (2005, 2002) now in its 2nd edition. He was Member of the (First) National Security Advisory Board and Member of the Nuclear Doctrine-drafting Group, and Adviser, Defence Expenditure, (Tenth) Finance Commission, India. He founded and conducted for many years the Strategic Nuclear Orientation Course for the Defence Ministry for Brigadier/Major General-rank military officers and designed and conducted the first inter agency war game on the nuclear tripwire in 2003 (at the Army War College). He is invited to lecture at the top military training institutions.

Dr Sanjaya Baru

Dr. Sanjaya Baru has been editor of India’s major financial newspapers and was Media Advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2004-08. He served as Director for Geo-economics and Strategy, International Institute of Strategic Studies (2011-16), and has lectured at National Defence College, Indian School of Public Policy, University of Hyderabad and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore. He was member of India’s National Security Advisory Board in 1999-2001 and is Founder-Trustee, Forum for National Security Studies, India. He was a member of the India-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group, 2010. His publications include The Strategic Consequences of India’s Economic Rise (2006); India and the World: Essays on Geo-economics and Foreign Policy (2016); India’s Power Elite: Caste, Class and a Cultural Revolution, (Penguin Viking, 2021). He is a Distinguished Fellow, at USI.

Dr. Ajai Sahni

>Dr. Ajai Sahni is the executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management, the South Asia Terrorism Portal & Khalistan Extremism Monitor; publisher & editor, South Asia Intelligence Review, FAULTLINES: KPS Gill Journal of Conflict & Resolution. He served as a Member of the (Madhukar Gupta) Committee on the Restructuring of the Ministry of Home Affairs and of the Police Modernisation and Strengthening Committee, Uttar Pradesh. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the United Services Institution of India. He has researched and written extensively on issues relating to conflict, politics and development in South Asia, and has participated in advisory projects undertaken for various National or State Governments.

Shri Nitin Gokhale

Nitin A. Gokhale is a media entrepreneur and author of over half a dozen books. He started his career in journalism in 1983; he has since led teams of journalists across media platforms. He has founded two niche portals, bharatshakti.in and StratNewsGlobal.com (stratnewsglobal.com). Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Major Sushil Goel (Retd), Advisor

Major Sushil Goel (Retd) is currently the CMD of P C Training Institute Limited, a multi-vertical flagship Company in the field of Education, Training, Skill Development, Assessment, Healthcare and Veteran Care . He has 49 years of work experience. He has served in the Army Ordnance Corps as a Major. He has also worked as a Business Development Advisor with Eicher Group, Fujitsu ICIM, Sun and Sun Inc, USA, TGK, Japan.

He has held important positions including as a National Secretary, Projects and Membership Development and Chief Technology Officer, Public Police, CTO and Global Administrator for Technology, World Constitution and Parliament Association and member of the Academic Board of Mahrishi Dayanand University, Rohtak; Sikkim Manipal University, Manipal and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal; and Karnataka State Open University (KSOU). He is also a DTE of distance education, MDU and senior consultant, SOCS, IGNOU.

He has many accomplishments to his name, mainly pioneering the concept of computer education to the common man, introducing the blended/ hybrid mode of teaching, Successfully leading the implementation of several Skill Development Projects sanctioned by Central / State Governments among others. Importantly, he is the pioneer of the concept of JanMitr, a social Project to provide support to the society by enabling the needy to avail the required services and products in the field of healthcare and education and veteran care in both urban and rural areas and also empower the youth and unemployed to become employable and self-sustained entrepreneur.

Col Sanjeev Relia (Retd)

Col Sanjeev Relia (Retd) served for over thirty-two years in the Corps of Signals, Indian Army. During this period, he gained expertise in the field of telecommunication, establishment of voice and data networks and cyber security in the Indian Army. Post superannuation, he has been working in the cooperate world as Senior Advisor, Cyber Security and is presently associated with two different companies. Since, September 2019 have been working as a consultant/ advisor with two different companies on issues pertaining to Cyber Security and have been rendering useful advice on implementation of cyber security projects and training on cyber security awareness. He is pursuing his PhD, on India’s Cyber Security Challenges at AMET University. Currently, he is a Visiting Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Col (Dr) KK Sharma

Col (Dr) KK Sharma (Retd) served in Army Air Defence in various locations including the Glaciers, and retired from the position of Chief Instructor, Tactical and Combat Wing, Army Air Defence College. He is a Professor and Dean in Global Education Programs, Chitkara University. He is an OB and HR student, with an experience in leadership positions in the Indian Army, UN Peace Operations and with the UNHCR. His academic teaching and research experience spans from 1985, till now, in multiple positions at national and global levels. Further, he has a PhD in Management (Zurich) and he has also done his MBA (HRM). He has authored six books, 26 research papers and presented papers in many national and international seminars and conferences. Presently, he is a Visiting Fellow at United Service Institution of India.

Ms Gaurie Dwivedi

Sr Journalist, 323 Mount Kailash Apartments, Tower – 1, East of Kailash, New Delhi – 110065.

Dr Nivedita Das Kundu

Research Fellow, York Center for Asian Studies, York University, Eighth Floor, 4700 Keele St. Toronto ON Canada M3J 1P3

Dr Sanjay Kumar

Associate Professor, Dept of Defence Studies, Meerut College, CCS University, Meerut (UP)

Dr Dhirendra Dwivedi

Head, Dept of Defence Studies, Iswar Saran Degree College, Allahabad (UP)

Dr Anurag Jaiswal

Associate Professor, Dept of Defence Studies, Meerut College, CCS University, Meerut (UP)

Dr Anand Kumar Singh

Head, Dept of Defence Studies, Hindu College, Moradabad (UP)

Dr RK Singh

Advisor, Advance Research Institute for Development of Social Science (ARIDSS), Meerut (UP)

Colonel Sanjeev Relia

C-6, 702 Cleo County, Sector 121, Noida – 201301

Rear Adm DM Sudan (Retd)

C-759, First Floor,C Block, New Friends Colony, New Delhi – 110 025

Col (Dr) KK Sharma (Retd)

D-47, Army Flats, Sector – 4, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula – 134 114

Prof Peter Stanley, Australia.

Dr Domineek D, Belgium

Prof KC Yadav, India

Dr Santanu Das, UK

Prof Radhika Singha, India

Dr Edward S Haynes, USA

Air Vice Mshl Vikram Singh, VSM, India

Mr Jagan Pillarisetti, India/USA

Col Pradeep Kumar Gautam, India

Dr. Vasileios Syros, JNU Greek Studies

Dr. Oyun Batsukh, JNU Mongolian studies

Late Dr Michael Liebig, Germany (Former)

Maj Gen Mandip Singh, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd)

Major General Jagatbir Singh

Major General Jagatbir Singh was commissioned into 18 Cavalry in December 1981 a Regiment which he subsequently commanded. He is a second generation officer and is an alumnus of Doon School, Dehra Dun and St Stephens College, Delhi. During his 38 years of service in the Army he has held various command, staff and instructional appointments and served in varied terrains in the country. He has served in a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission as a Military Observer in Iraq and Kuwait in the period between the two Gulf Wars. He has served as a Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade which was actively involved in insurgency operations in the North East, served in the Military Secretary’s Branch in Army Headquarters dealing with career management of officers and been a Director of Tri Services Institutes at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff amongst his staff appointments and headed a project seeing to the implementation of a Command Decision Support System. He has also been posted to Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dun as a Platoon Commander and served two tenures; one as an Instructor and one as a Senior Instructor in the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He retired in February 2018 as the Director General Resettlement under the Ministry of Defence. He is a prolific writer in defence & national security and adept at public speaking.

Colonel Pradeep Kumar Gautam (Retd)

Pradeep Kumar Gautam, has contributed towards the study and contemporary relevance of Indigenous Historical Knowledge as it pertains to strategic thinking and security studies. He has presented papers on Kautilya’s Arthashastra at Global International Studies Conferences in Germany (2014) and Taiwan (2017). He has given presentations and lectures on Kautilya at the Indian Institute for Advanced Study, Shimla, Army War College, the Indian National Defence University under the aegis of HQ IDS and other academic institutes/colleges/think tanks. Since 2013 till date, he gives presentations on Kautilya and its various facets at strategic orientation capsules conducted by IDSA for IFS probationers, BSF, IAF Officers nominated to go abroad for Staff college course, NTRO, DGOF, ITBP etc. He is also a resource person for the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi where he has given presentations on Kautilya/Strategic culture to foreign diplomats posted at New Delhi and to the certificate course conducted by VIF on Indian strategic thought. Related to the Indian heritage, he has authored a number of journal articles, three monographs on Kautilya’s Arthashastra and one on Kamandaka’s Nitishastra. His monograph Hundred Years of Kautilya’s Arthshastra has been included in the syllabus of Delhi University MA Political Science course from academic year 2019. He has five chapters on or related to Kautilya’s Arthashastra in four edited volumes of which he is also the co-editor of the trilogy Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volumes I, II and III (20015/2016). His present research interest is the Kural composed by Tiruvalluvar. A monograph on the same is forthcoming. The author in early 20th century began his research career at the USI of India through the DRDO chair which was published as Environmental Security: Internal and External Dimensions and Response (2003). His other abiding interest and published work is on subjects like nontraditional security/water/climate change , military matters and history, and Tibet. Sample published work and lectures related to Indigenous Historical Knowledge is at Appendix.

Captain Sarabjeet Singh Parmar

An alumnus of National Defence Academy (NDA) Kharakwasla, and Defence Services Staff College(DSSC) Wellington, Captain Parmar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987and retired on 30 June 2023. He is a Sea King pilot who has commanded two ships and a frontline Anti-Submarine and Anti-Shipping helicopter squadron. He was member of the XI Indian Antarctic Summer Expedition in 1991 and has attended the South Asia Regional Governance and Management Defence Course Conducted by the British Government at Colombo in 2005. He represented the Indian Navy in the first international HOSTAC (helicopter operations from ships other than aircraft carriers) conference held at Norfolk, USA in 2008. He has served as Joint Director Naval Plans in Directorate of Naval Planning at IHQ MoD (Navy). He has been Directing Staff at Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, where he was responsible for the national strategy and international law modules. As a Research Fellow at the then Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi from Sep 2010 to July 2014, he looked at maritime strategy and security related issues in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region. Post IDSA he worked in the Indian Navy’s strategic apex level officesfrom 2014 to 2018. As Director (Strategy) in the Directorate of Strategy Concepts and Transformation at IHQ MoD (Navy) he was part of the core team that revised Indian Navy’s unclassified maritime security strategy document and doctrine, released as Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy in 2015. At theMaritime Doctrines and Concepts Centre, as Director Strategic Maritime Assessment and Doctrine Development, he carried out regional maritime assessments and completed the doctrine development plan. He joined the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, in April 2018 as Senior Fellow, was the Executive Director from 04 June 2019 to 31 January 2022, and Senior Fellow from 01 February 2022 till retirement. He looks at national and maritime security strategies and related aspectsspecifically with respect to the Indo-Pacific, and international maritime law with a focus on law-fare.