Maj Gen Hartej Singh Bajaj, VSM an alumnus of National Defence Academy where he received Bronze Medal, was commissioned in December 1991 in 110 Engineer Regiment (The Bombay Sappers).
The General Officer is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and attended Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC) where he stood Third on the course and prestigious National Defence College (NDC) course. The officer has excelled in all courses of instruction. He is a Gold Medalist in B.Tech (Civil Engg) from College of Military Engineering, Pune and was awarded Distinction in ORSA course at USA where he stood First.
In his three decades of distinguished Military career, he has tenanted important and challenging command, staff and instructional appointments in different operational environments. The General Officer has commanded an Engineer Regiment deployed under Operation MEGHDOOT, an Infantry Brigade in Western Sector and Commanded Largest Operational Sub Area in Northern Command. The General Officer has also Commanded the Battle Axe Division in Desert Sect and has been Chief of Staff of Operational Gajraj Corps in East. His staff exposure includes GSO 2 (SD & Trg) at CME Pune, GSO-1 (Ops) of 65 Infantry Brigade, GSO 1 (ORSA) at PP Dte, IHQ of MoD (Army), served in UN Mission Rwanda, Defence Attache’ at Embassy of India in Turkmenistan which he raised and Brig CD (AoN & Cat) at Capability Development Directorate, IHQ of (MoD (Army). He has been an Instructor CI ‘B’ & ‘A and Head of Training Team (HOTT) at CME Pune and Directing Staff, Sr Comd Wing at Army War college, Mhow.
For his distinguished service and devotion to duty the General Officer has been awarded COAS Commendation on two occasions in 2002 & 2011 and Vishisht Seva Medal in Jan 2025
The General Officer is married to Mrs Gaurika Bajaj who is an educationist with 20 years of teaching experience. The couple are blessed with two children, son Mr Gurtej Singh Bajaj who is alumnus of SRCC, Delhi (B.Com Hons) and working as Gourmet Partnership National Account Manager with Swiggy Ltd and daughter Ms Tejika Bajaj who graduated from Hansraj College (B.Com Hons) and is currently working with Baine (US) Consultancy as Associate.
He has assumed the appt of SDS (Army), NDC wef 02 Jan 2026.
Maj Gen Pawanpal Singh, VSM a third generation Army Officer was commissioned into the Indian Army (Armoured Corps) in 1989. The officer has commanded an Infantry Company in Counter Insurgency Operations and along the line of Control in High Altitude Areas, a frontline Tank Regiment and Formations in the Western and Eastern Theatres. He has tenanted General Staff and Operational Logistics assignments in critical billets at the Brigade, Divisional, Command and Service Headquarters levels. The officer has also held instructional appointments both within India and overseas.
The General Officer is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College on a competitive vacancy, the Higher Command Course and the prestigious National Defence College Course, New Delhi. In addition he has also attended the Tank Technology Course and the Comprehensive Crisis Management Course in USA.
A keen sportsman, the officer has participated in Services Tennis and Squash. He is married to Mrs Shivani Singh, a working freelance professional. They have two children. Their daughter Jaanvi, post her MBA degree from XLRI, Jamshedpur is working in the corporate Head Office of ITC Limited. Jaiditya, their son, is pursuing his B Tech in Computer Sciences from BITS, Pilani (India).
Maj Gen Samarth Nagar was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in Dec 1990.
In a Military career spanning over 30 years, the Officer has acquired diverse Staff and Command experience. His command tenures include the command of an Armoured Regiment in an (I) Armoured Brigade orbatted to a pivot Corps, an Armoured Brigade in the Armoured Division and a Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Division (RAPID) on the Western Front. Important Staff Appointments tenanted by the General Officer are GSO-3 of an Armoured Brigade, GSO-I of a RR Sector, Col GS of a Mountain Division and BGS of a Corps in the Eastern Sector. He has also been posted in the DGPP (now redesignated as DGSP) and DGMT, IHQ of MOD (Army) in the rank of Colonel & Brigadier respectively. He has attended the Advance Armour Course at EAABC, Saumur in France. He has been an Instructor at the School of Armoured Warfare, ACC&S and has served as CMPO/DCOS PET in MONUSCO, DR Congo. The Officer attended the NDC-60 Course at National Defence College, New Delhi.
He is married to Mrs Samidha Singh, an IRAS Officer and they have a daughter Adhishree.
Rear Admiral Sandeep Singh Sandhu was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1991. The Flag Officer is specialised in Navigation and Direction and is a qualified naval diver. He has held a range of command, training and staff appointments, and has served on most classes of ships of the Indian Navy including the aircraft carrier Viraat.
His sea command appointments include IN ships Veer, Nirbhik, Khanjar, and destroyer INS Delhi. As Asst. Controller Carrier Projects (ACCP) & Asst. Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (ACW P&A) at the Naval HQs he was responsible for operationalization of INS Vikrant air wing and overseeing construction of approx 30 warships. Before joining NDC he was Chief of Staff of Andaman & Nicobar Command the only integrated operational Command of the Indian Armed forces.
The Flag Officer has attended courses at DSSC, Wellington, HDMC at CDM. Secunderabad and the Royal College of Defence Studies. London. His educational qualifications apart from the Masters he has obtained during various training course include MA in Intemational Security & Strategy from Kings College, London.
He was awarded the Nau Sena Medal in 2018.
Adm Sandhu is a good swimmer, plays Basketball & Volleyball and is an occasional golfer. He is married to Jasreena who holds a bachelor degree in Commerce and Education. They have two sons Gaurav and Rajat.
Air Vice Marshal Manish Vasantkumar Patel was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 19 Dec 1992. He is a graduate from Gujarat University and an alumnus of Defence Service Staff College.
In his distinguished career of over three decades, he has flown a variety of rotary aircraft and fixed wing trainer aircraft and has over 6000 hours of flying experience.
A Cat ‘A’ qualified flying instructor, Air Vice Marshal Manish V Patel has held a variety of operational and staff appointments during his career. His operational assignments include Command of a frontline helicopter unit in the hilly terrains of Northern Sector, Command of the Alma Mater of Helicopter Pilots- Helicopter Training School, Station Commander of Air Force Station Udhampur and Air Officer Commanding of a premier flying base in the Eastern Sector. Prior to his present appointment at NDC as Senior Directing Staff (Air), he was Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Financial Planning & Administration).
The Staff appointments of Air Vice Marshal Manish V Patel include tenures as Military Observer in UN Mission Sudan, Director Training (Flying) and Deputy Director General Acquisition Tech (Air) at Air Headquarters. The Air Officer has undergone the prestigious National Defence College course from National Resilience Institute of Republic of Indonesia.
The Air Officer is a proud recipient of Vayusena Medal and Commendations by the Air Officer Commanding-in- Chief, Western Air Command and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
The Air Officer is married to Gp Capt (Mrs) Jyoti Mehta. They are blessed with a son – Vedant M Patel who is pursuing his post-graduation from US.
Ms. Anvita Sinha is a Jt. Secretary rank officer from the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS), DoJ: 01 Sep 2003. She has done her schooling from Welham Girls’ High School, Dehradun. She graduated with LLB. Hons (5 years), a first ranker and Gold Medallist from Lucknow University in the year 2001. Also, completed PG Diploma in HRM and ranked first from Guwahati University in 2013.
Over the last 22 years, she has served in various offices as Asst. Personal Officer, (NE Railway), Sr. Personal Officer (NF Railway), Deputy Chief Personnel Officer (HQ, NF Railway), Director, Estt (Gazetted Cadre), Railway Board, Director Appointments, Dept. of Justice (CSS Posting) and as Executive Director (Gazetted Cadre), Railway Board, New Delhi before Joining NDC as Senior Directing Staff (Civil Services) SDS(CS) on 13 Oct 2025.
She has handled various challenging assignments and instrumental in shaping of Indian Railway Management Service, re-introducing recruitment through the Indian Engineering Services in Indian Railways and introduction of centralized CBT for Group `B’ promotions in Indian Railways. She was awarded General Manager’s Award (Northeast Frontier Railway - 2016) for Meritorious Services for outstanding contribution to policy making on various establishment matters, Cash Prize for finalizing the Cadre Restructuring exercise within the target framework (2020) and Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar at National Level by Hon’ble Minister for Railways (2024).
She is married to Shri Shreedeep Sinha, IRSS (2001 Batch), a B.Tech in Civil Engg. from Delhi College of Engineering. The Couple are blessed with a son, Master Arunoday Sinha. She is trained in Classical Dance (Kathak) and her other interests include Dramatics and Public Speaking.
