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Lt Gen D S Hooda (Retd)

Co-Founder

D S Hooda co-founded CSDR and directs projects of its defense and security verticals.

Lt. Gen. Hooda was commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles in 1976. He served initially in Nagaland during the peak of insurgency. As a Major General, Hooda was responsible for counter-insurgency operations in Manipur and South Assam. Between 2012 to 2016, he was stationed in Jammu and Kashmir and ultimately retired as the Army Commander of Northern Command in 2016. During this time, he effectively tackled numerous strategic challenges that emerged on the borders with Pakistan and China. Hooda is a recipient of several prestigious awards including the Vasishta Seva Medal, Ati Vasishta Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, and Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished military service. In 2019, he authored a comprehensive National Security Strategy document. Today, he is one of India’s foremost commentators on the country’s national security.

Areas of
Expertise

India's Defense Policy

Indian Military Reforms

Internal Security

Strategic Technologies & Warfare

FOUNDERS

Prof. Happymon Jacob

Founder & Director

Happymon Jacob is the founder and director of CSDR. He directs CSDR’s research and activities across divisions.

Dr. Gaurav Saini

Gaurav Saini is co-founder of CSDR and leads product design and partnerships.

Team

Ushasi Paul

Research Intern

Ushasi Paul is a research intern at CSDR. She is also pursuing her Master’s in Diplomacy, Law, and Business at OP Jindal Global University.

Dr. Sidharth Raimedhi

Sidharth Raimedhi is a Fellow at CSDR. He is the editor-in-chief, and contributor, to the DIPTEL newsletter which covers contemporary Indian foreign policy developments on a weekly basis.

Dr. Tishya Khillare

Dr. Tishya Khillare is a Fellow at CSDR. She leads CSDR’s work on Non-traditional Security issues in South Asia and the Indo Pacific, specifically on Climate Diplomacy, South-South and Triangular Cooperation, Feminist Foreign Policy, and Gender and Security.

Bashir Ali Abbas

Senior Research Associate

Bashir Ali Abbas is a Research Associate at CSDR.

Devika Makkat

Research Associate

Devika Makkat is Research Associate – Operations at CSDR.the Council for Strategic and Defense Research, New Delhi.

Amen Naithani

Research Associate

Amen is a Research Associate at CSDR and works on projects under the Indo-Pacific and Climate Security and Diplomacy programs.

Experts

Prof. C Raja Mohan

Distinguished Fellow & ROK Chair

C Raja Mohan is a Distinguished Fellow at CSDR and directs CSDR’s Geopolitics and International Security Program. He also holds the Republic of Korea Chair at CSDR, supported by the Korea Foundation.

Rakesh Sood

Distinguished Fellow

Rakesh Sood is a Distinguished Fellow at CSDR and directs the work of CSDR’s Space Technologies and Policy Program.

Ajay Bisaria

Ajay Bisaria is a distinguished diplomat, strategic consultant, and commentator on international affairs. With a career spanning 35 years in the Indian Foreign Service, he has played pivotal roles in shaping India’s key economic and security relationships.

Ashok K. Kantha

Distinguished Fellow

Ashok K. Kantha is a distinguished diplomat who served as India’s Ambassador to China (2014-16) and Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs. With over 38 years of diplomatic experience specializing in India’s neighborhood relations, he was India’s lead negotiator for key agreements with China.

VAdm Anil K Chawla (Retd)

Distinguished Fellow

VAdm Anil K Chawla is the former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command and a Distinguished Fellow at CSDR.

Lt Gen Sanjay Verma (Retd)

Distinguished Fellow

Lt Gen Sanjay Verma (retd) is a Distinguished Fellow at CSDR where he directs CSDR’s work on Indian Defense Industry.

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