Born in 1961 in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, he is a Post Graduate in Geology (Hons), MBA in Marketing Management and PhD in Cultural Tourism Management and joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1986 in Kerala Cadre. Worked as Sub Collector, Deputy Secretary, District Collector, Managing Director of several government companies and as Director in the Ministry of Culture & Tourism in Govt of India. His last assignment was Health Secretary, Government of Kerala for 4 years before joining National Defence College as Joint Secretary & Senior Directing Staff (Civil Services). 

He is married to Preeti and has two sons Eklavya and Dhruv.

Rear Admiral Anand Iyer, alumnus of both NDA (53rd Course) and NAVAC (14th Integrated), was commissioned in the Communications Branch of the Indian Navy on 01 January 1980.

During a career spanning 30 years, Rear Admiral Anand Iyer held a mix of operational and staff appointments. Post Watch Keeping, he served as CO CG IPV C-04 at Okha prior to being appointed as Divisional officer at National Defence Academy. Consequently, specialized in Communication and Electronic Warfare and served as Signal Communication Officer, Electronic Warfare Officer/SCO on board INS Betwa and Rana respectively. Specialist tenures were followed by an Advanced Course in Electronic Warfare at erstwhile Soviet Union, after which he was appointed as Fleet EWO/Fleet Communication Officer, Western Fleet. He commanded Indian naval Ships Kora, Ranvir and Mumbai. In addition to staff/operational appointments like DDNS (EW) at Naval Headquarters, FEWO/FCO Western Fleet and CSO (Ops) at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, he held the instructor appointment as Officer-in-Charge of Signal School, Kochi. 

A post graduate from both DSSC Wellington and Cranfield University in United Kingdom, Rear Admiral Anand Iyer holds an M Phil degree on National Security Studies from National Defence College. In addition, he has undergone professional courses like Advanced EW at Leningrad, USSR and Global Security at Cranfield University, UK.

An avid reader and writer with special interest in matters related to South East Asia/Asia Pacific, Rear Admiral Anand Iyer is also a keen sportsman who plays volleyball, cricket and squash. The Flag Officer is married to Swati, a Masters in neurophysiology and a diploma in Marketing Management, and has two daughters, students of St Xaviers College, Mumbai and NCS Delhi respectively.

Mr. Niraj Srivastava joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1983. He has served in various countries including Syria, the United States, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Uganda and India. 

Mr. Srivastava has been educated in Indian and foreign universities. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). He learnt Arabic in Syria during his first posting to the country, obtaining an Advanced Diploma in the language in 1987. In 1988-89 Mr. Srivastava was nominated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to attend the “Foreign Service Programme” at Oxford University, UK, where he obtained a diploma in “Diplomatic Studies”. In 2001-2002, Mr. Srivastava was deputed by the MEA to Georgetown University, Washington D.C., USA. He joined the University’s School of Foreign Service (SFS) as a member of the faculty, and taught a 3-credit course to undergraduate students on “International Politics of South Asia”.

Mr. Srivastava has done postings in Damascus, Syria (1984-1987); Washington D.C. USA (1991-94); Tripoli, Libya (1994-1997) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1997-2001; Ottawa, Canada (2005-2007); and Kampala, Uganda (2007-2011), where he was High Commissioner, and also concurrently accredited to Rwanda and Burundi. He has also taken two sabbaticals as mentioned above at Oxford University, U.K. (1988-89), and Georgetown University, Washington D.C. USA (2001-2002). Mr. Srivastava has also done two postings at headquarters - in 1989-1990, when he was Under Secretary; and in 2002-2004, when he was Director (Americas) dealing with the US & Canada, and subsequently Director (Foreign Secretary’s Office).

Mr. Srivastava is married and has two children – a son and a daughter.

Major General PK Goswami, VSM was commissioned into Regiment of Artillery (Air Defence Branch) on 11 June 1977 and commanded Air Defence Missile Regiment (SP) from 1998 to 2001.

The General Officer commanded Independent Air Defence Brigade as part of a Strike Corps. He has varied Staff and Instructional appointment to include Staff appointments in an Infantry Brigade in Counter Insurgency Operations, Assistant Military Secretary, Military Secretary Branch at Army HQ, Colonel Administration of Infantry Division and Brigadier Administration of a Strike Corps. Instructor at National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Army War College, Mhow.

The Officer was deputed Military Observer with United Nation Verification Mission at Angola.

He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Higher Command Course and National Defence College. 

The General Officer is recipient of Vishisht Sewa Medal in 1994 for distinguished services.

Air Vice Marshal Arvind Verma, an alumni of NDA, 52nd course was commissioned in the IAF on 07 Jul 1978. He has undergone Flight Combat Leader and QFI course. He has nearly 4000 hrs of flying with 1400 plus instructional hours on Kiran and MiG-21 Aircraft. Almuni of DSSC, Wellington, has undergone the Higher Command Course at Army War College Mhow, Senior Defence Management Course at CDM. He has commanded a Pechora Sqn, an Air Defence Base, and a TAC. Has served as Staff at HQ SWAC and as Principal Director(Air) in Strategic Forces Command. He was Dy Commandant at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, prior being posted to NDC. For his distinguished services, he was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal in 2003. Wife Mrs Rita Verma is a house maker. He has one son, who is married and is an Environmental Scientist working with the Centre for Glaciology in Dehradun.

Major General Sanjaya Saran, YSM, VSM was commissioned into Regiment of Artillery (Field Branch) in 1978. He later commanded his parent unit, a Field Regiment, from 1997 to 2001 including during OPERATION VIJAY.

The Officer has commanded an Infantry Brigade as part of a Strike Corps. His staff exposures include staff appointment in an Armoured Brigade Headquarters as part of a Strike Corps; as a Colonel in an Infantry Division Headquarters during OPERATION PARAKARAM and later at the Army Headquarters. His most recent staff exposure was as Brigadier Quarter Master General in a Corps Headquarters deployed in counter insurgency operations.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Defence Management and the National Defence College.

The Officer is a recipient of the Yudh Seva Medal for distinguished service in operations and the Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished services elsewhere.

Maj Gen BK Sharma, is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Higher Command Course and National Defence College. He is also accredited with higher qualifications, Master of Military Science, Master of Philosophy in Defence Management, and Master of Philosophy in Defence & Strategic Studies. He has proficiency in Russian and Spanish languages. He has held important staff appointments (MS Branch, GSO1 (Ops), Director Army in COSC Sectt, DACIDS (Net Assessment) and BGS of a Corps) at various formation and Defence Headquarters. Presently, he is pursuing his doctorate in Geopolitics in Central Asia.

He commanded an Infantry Battalion 6 SIKH LI deployed for combating terrorism, an Infantry Brigade in the desert Sector and a Mountain Division on border with China. He was a UN Military Observer in Central America and Defence Attache in the Embassy of India at Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. He also participated in an international seminar in Peace Keeping in Santiago (Chile), May 2001. He has written a No of policy papers and Net Assessments on Geopolitics and defence matters besides authoring a thesis for his P Phil titled ‘New Great Game in Central Asia; Implications for India’. The General Officer is widely travelled and lectures at various prestigious think tanks in India.

The officer was awarded medals by the President of India in 1988 and 2011 for rendering distinguished service. The General was awarded Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation for High risk mission in high altitude areas.

A multifaceted personality, the General is fond of travelling, swimming, reading, photography, trekking and golfing.

He is married to Mrs Alka Sharma. Elder son, Maj Vishal Sharma is serving in 6 SIKH LI and younger son Vikas Sharma is doing BE in IT from Manipal University.