USI Management
The three Service Chiefs serve as Vice Patrons of the Institution. Management is vested in a Council composed of 24 members, ten of whom are ex-officio and fourteen are elected for a period of three years. The Executive Committee, which consists of a chairman and at least seven members chosen from the Council, is responsible for executing the policy guidelines provided by the Council. The Director General is the Chief Executive of the Institution and also serves as the Member-Secretary of both the aforementioned bodies.
The USI Council
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Vice Patrons |
General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM Chief of the Army Staff |
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Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM Chief of the Naval Staff |
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Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM Chief of the Air Staff |
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Council |
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President |
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, AVSM, VM, VSM Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee |
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Vice Presidents |
Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh AVSM, SM** Vice Chief of the Army Staff |
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Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, AVSM, NM Vice Chief of the Naval Staff |
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Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM, PVSM, AVSM, VM Vice Chief of the Air Staff |
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Ex-Officio Members |
Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS Defence Secretary |
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Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla, UYSM, AVSM,YSM Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation & Training) |
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Lt Gen Sukriti Singh Dahiya, SM, VSM Chief of Staff, Army Training Command |
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Commodore Saket Khanna Commodore (Naval Training) |
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Air Vice Marshal II Kuttappa, VM,VSM |
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Elected Members |
Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd) |
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Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd) is a former Director of General Military Operations and Director of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies. His advisory skills in the strategic arena have played a pivotal role in designing and implementing numerous policies for the Indian Army. He was instrumental in giving the much-needed focus to capability development and capacity enhancement along our Northern borders, as also effective management of the Line of Control and more importantly, the Line of Actual Control. His higher command assignments include that of an Infantry Division on the Line of Control, and an operational Corps along the Indo-China border. His operational experience is varied, as he has actively been part of Operations Rakshak, Vijay, Rhino, Hifazat, Orchid, Falcon, All Clear, and Cactus (Maldives).He has written on wide-ranging subjects such as regional and national security, data sovereignty, cyber security, international relations, special operations, human resource development, human rights, psychological and information warfare, and operational philosophy. He participates in numerous seminars and webinars on national security both in India and abroad. |
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Major General lan Cardozo, AVSM, SM (Retd) |
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Maj Gen Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM (Retd), was commissioned into 1/5 Gorkha Rifles after excelling at the National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He saw combat in the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, earning the Sena Medal for gallantry and being grievously wounded at Sylhet. Defying disability, he commanded a battalion, brigade, and division, retiring as Chief of Staff of a Corps. Post-retirement, he led national rehabilitation institutions and is a widely acclaimed military author and advocate for the war-disabled. |
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Lieutenant General Satish Kumar Dua, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM (Retd) |
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Lieutenant General Satish Kumar Dua, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM (Retd), a retired Indian Army officer, he is widely recognised for leadership in counterterrorism and high-level strategic operations. Commissioned into 8 JAKLI in 1979, he served in key appointments, including Corps Commander of XV Corps during the 2016 surgical strikes and later as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, he also served as Defence Attaché to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, co-chaired the Indo-US Military Cooperation Group, and remains active as an author, speaker and security commentator. |
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Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) |
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Lieutenant General DP Pandey, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) commissioned into 9 SIKH LI served in high-altitude areas, counter-insurgency and conventional operations. He participated in Operation Vijay (Kargil), commanded his unit in Siachen and Eastern Ladakh, served in Kashmir seven times including commands of various Rashtriya Rifles formations and later the Chinar Corps. He was Director of Foreign Division and the Additional Director General Strategic Communication, inaugural Director General Territorial Army, and Commandant Army War College. An alumnus of Defence Service Staff College, National War College (USA), and National Defence college, he is recognised for expertise in training, leadership, and operational art. He is subject of a book ‘Soldiering with Passion’ and author of ‘Reflections on Strategy’. | |
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Lieutenant General Arun Kumar Sahni, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM (Retd) |
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Lieutenant General Arun Kumar Sahni, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Army with distinction, earning the Sword of Honour and President’s Gold Medal at commissioning and served for over 40 years. His operational and staff roles included command of an Self-propelled artillery regiment, artillery and infantry brigades, division, corps and an army. He superannuated as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command. Post retirement, he advises a leading Corporate for their Make in India - defence, mentors initiatives in cyber and AI and steers an advocacy policy group on climate change and sustainability. He is on the governing council of a leading Indian think tank and distinguished fellow with two other Delhi based think tanks. Well respected for oratory skills, strategic insight and professional excellence, he is a regular speaker at national and international security forums. |
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Lieutenant General Rakesh Sharma, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) |
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Lieutenant General (Dr) Rakesh Sharma, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Army and held key operational and institutional appointments during a distinguished career. He commanded the Fire and Fury Corps in Ladakh and later served as the Adjutant General of the Indian Army. Specialising in leadership, personnel management, and modern warfare, he now holds the General Bipin Rawat Chair of Excellence at USI, serves on the Governing and Executive Councils of leading defence institutions, and is a Distinguished Fellow at VIF. |
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Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM (Retd) |
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Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM (Retd), is a former Army Commander, with over four decades of distinguished service in the Indian Army, across a wide range of operational, ideational and training assignments. A combat aviator and accomplished public speaker, the officer has an abiding interest in strategic-military affairs. He has published more than 100 articles in journals and prominent dailies. He has also lectured / participated in approximately 500 talks / seminars / events in India and abroad. In recognition of his service of the most exceptional order, the officer was awarded the Param Vashist Seva Medal on Republic Day 2021. The Honourable President was pleased to appoint Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla to the office of ‘Member UPSC,’ w.e.f. 18th July, 2022. He is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) and a member of the Governing Council of the India Foundation. |
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Lieutenant General Ajai Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) |
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Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, PVSM, AVSM, NM (Retd) |
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Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, PVSM, AVSM, NM (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1985 and served until 2023, specialising as a submariner and navigation officer. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and Joint Services Command and Staff College (UK), he commanded key platforms including INS Shalki, INS Krishna, INS Rajput, INS Satavahana and India’s first SSBN INS Arihant as CO (Desig). His senior appointments included Flag Officer Submarines, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area, Deputy C-in-C Strategic Forces Command, and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. Post-retirement, he is an eminent expert on Sea-based Nuclear Deterrence and Underwater Domain Awareness and is actively engaged in the strategic discourse. |
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Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) |
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Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1983 and served until February 2023. A navigation and aircraft-direction specialist, he commanded frontline platforms including INS Veer, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Trishul, and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, and led the Eastern Fleet. His senior appointments included Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training) and Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, culminating as Commander-in-Chief of both Eastern and Western Naval Commands. An alumnus of NDA, DSSC, and Cranfield University, he is recognised for strategic planning and naval leadership. Post-retirement, he is an active strategic thinker, speaker, and author on higher defence organisation and jointness | |
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Air Marshal (Dr) Rajesh Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd) |
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Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Air Force and served with distinction for 39 years. He commanded a frontline fighter squadron, an air base, an IAF Command, and a Tri-Service Command. A Category ‘A’ Flying Instructor and Air Force examiner, he led critical capability projects including the Light Combat Aircraft and AWACS in Israel. An alumnus of Air Command and Staff College (USA) and College of Defence Management, he retired as Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command, and is a published expert on nuclear policy with CAPS. |
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Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd) |
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Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Air Force and built a distinguished career across operations, training, and joint defence management. An alumnus of prestigious institutions including Flying Instructor School, College of Defence Management, and National Defence College, he is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 7,200 flying hours. He commanded an An-32 squadron and held key appointments such as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations), Centre Director (Aviation) at the National Technical Research Organisation, and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, culminating as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and Additional Secretary (Air). Post-retirement, he is a Distinguished Fellow at the United Service Institution of India and the Centre for Air Power Studies and remains active in strategic and academic discourse. |
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Smt Smita Purushottam, IFS (Retd) |
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Smt Smita Purushottam, IFS (Retd), former Ambassador to Switzerland/the Vatican/Liechtenstein and Venezuela—served in diverse capacities in India’s missions in Berlin, London, Beijing, Brussels and Moscow, and also on the Soviet/Russian, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Bhutan and other desks in the Ministry of External Affairs/Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence. She pursued her academic interests at Harvard, the then Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), University of California, San Diego and National Defence University and has been publishing on the need to learn lessons from the economic reforms and innovation ecosystems in different parts of the world. She started the Science, Indigenous Technology and Advanced Research Accelerator (SITARA) to promote the development of a high-tech economy after her retirement from the Indian Foreign Service. Earlier she had launched the High-Tech Defence Innovation Forum at IDSA in 2011. She speaks Russian and French apart from native languages. |
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Shri Sanjay Singh, IFS (Retd) |
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Shri Sanjay Singh, IFS (Retd), is an alumnus of Delhi University. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976 and served in Indian Missions in Mexico, Germany, Ghana, Vietnam and France. He was India’s Ambassador to Iran and Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Since retirement in 2013, he has been working with various institutions on issues related to foreign affairs and was President of the Association of Indian Diplomats. |
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Member Secretary |
Vice Admiral SJ Singh, SVSM, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD (Retd) Director General, USI |
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Executive Committee |
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Chairman |
Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla, UYSM, AVSM,YSM Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation & Training) |
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Members |
Those indicated by@ above |
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Member Secretary |
Vice Admiral SJ Singh, SVSM, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD (Retd) Director General, USI |
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USI Staff |
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Director General |
Vice Admiral SJ Singh, SVSM, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD (Retd) |
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Director (Permanent Staff Basis) |
Major General SB Asthana, SM, VSM (Retd) Centre for Professional Military Education |
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Squadron Leader RTS Chhina, MBE (Retd) Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies |
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Director (Consultant Basis) |
Major General Rajendra Singh Yadav, VSM (Retd) Centre for Security Studies and Simulation |
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Major General (Dr) Pawan Anand, AVSM (Retd) Centre for Emerging Technology for Atma Nirbhar Bharat |
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Major General PK Goswami, VSM (Retd) Centre for United Nations Studies |
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Major General Sanjeev Chowdhry (Retd) Centre for Publications |
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Group Captain Sharad Tewari, VM (Retd) Administration |
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