Shri Birender Singh Yadav, IFS
Senior Directing Staff
(Foreign Services)

Shri Birender Singh Yadav is a career diplomat and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1997.  He has served extensively at the Ministry of External Affairs and at Indian Missions abroad. He has earlier served diplomatic assignments in various capacities in Embassy of India in Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, and Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO and High Commission of India in Sri Lanka.  At the Headquarters, he has handled the work related to India's bilateral relations with countries of Gulf region, South East Asia region and West Africa Division. He has been Ambassador of India to Republic of Iraq from January 2020 to July 2021. He was also High Commissioner of India to Republic of Ghana (October 2016-January 2020) with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador of India to Burkina Faso (October 2016-March 2019), High Commissioner to Sierra Leone and Ambassador to Republic of Togo.

He is an alumni of prestigious National Defence College and was course participant of 55th NDC Course.  He also successfully completed UN Disarmament Fellowship in 2006.

He hold a Bachelor degree in Engineering. He is fluent in English, Hindi and Russian. He is married to Richa Rao, and they have one daughter and one son.



Maj Gen Ajay Kumar Singh, AVSM, SM
Senior Directing Staff (Army-I)

Maj Gen Ajay Kumar Singh, AVSM, SM was commissioned into 8 SIKH on 15 Dec 1990. He is a graduate of Fergusson College, Pune. He has done his MSc (Def Studies) from University of Madras (DSSC Wellington), M Phil (Def Studies) from Devi Ahilya Bai Vishwa Vidalaya, Indore and M Phil (Def Strategic Studies) from University of Madras. The Gen Offr is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi.

The Gen Offr has successfully commanded 14 SIKH and later 70 Inf Bde at Kiari in Eastern Ladakh. During his illustrious career, Maj Gen Ajay Kumar Singh, SM has tenanted several prestigious appointments incl GSO-1 (Ops) in MO Dte, Col GS (Ops) in HQ 12 Corps & HQ 2 Mtn Div, Col A(D&V) in HQ Southern Comd, Dy Cdr of 15 Inf Bde and DDG Acqn Tech (Army) at MoD. The Gen Offr has also served in UN Msn (UNIFIL) in 2003. The Gen Offr commanded 5 Mountain Division from 10 May 2022 to 31 Dec 2023.

For his illustrious services, he has been conferred with the award of COAS Commendation Card in 2006 & Sena Medal (Distinguished) in 2019.

He is married to Mrs Manjaree Singh, who is an educationist. The couple blessed with a son, Master Arunit Singh who is a Marine Engineer working in Merchant Navy and daughter Miss Anoushka Singh who has completed her post graduation in International Relations from JNU, Delhi.



Maj Gen Mukesh Aggarwal, VSM
Senior Directing Staff (Army-II)

Maj Gen Mukesh Aggarwal, VSM is an alumnus of NDA, Khadakwasla and was commissioned into Arty Regt on 19 Dec 1987.

He has attended SC-99 at College of Combat Mhow, HDMC-06 at CDM Secunderabad, NDC-56 at New Delhi and graduate of DSSC Wellington.

During his distinguished service, the Gen Offr has tenated numerous instructional, Staff and Comd appts. He has served as instructor in School of Arty Devlali, IMA Dehradun, CDM Secunderabad and Army War College Mhow. His important staff tenures are GSO-2 at Military Intelligence Directorate, EDP Offr at UNIFIL (Lebanon), GSO-1 in Perspective Planning Directorate, Col GS (Plg) of a Strike Corps, DDG KRAMC at COAS Sectt, MA to COAS, DA to CDS and MGOL. He commanded a medium Regiment in a counter insurgency environment & in deserts and an Artillery Brigade in High Altitude on Northern Borders.

He has been awarded Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), GOC-in-C Commendation Card twice and a CISC Commendation Card which are an apt recognition of his selfless and distinguished service.

He is married to Mrs Jaya Aggarwal, who is a educationist. She has interest in all matters pertaining to education. The couple are blessed with a daughter Miss Tanya Aggarwal who is working in ICICI Bank.



Maj Gen Samarth Nagar,
Senior Directing Staff (Army-III)

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.



AVM Manish Kumar Gupta, AVSM
Senior Directing Staff
 (Air)

Air Vice Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta is the Senior Directing Staff (Air) at National Defence College with effect from 24 Jul 2023. He earned his commission as a Pilot Officer on 16 Dec 1989 as the officer best in flying in 144 PC. He is a fighter pilot with over 3000 hours, having flown multiple combat aircraft. He has served at Air HQ in directorate of Air Staff Inspection and C4ISR. He has served at HQ Central Air Command, as in charge of Mirage 2000 operations. He has commanded an IACCS node, Fighter Sqn, Air Combat Simulator, a Fighter Wing and a strategic airlift wing. Prior to his present appointment he was the Chief Instructor (Air) at Defence Services Staff College Wellington.



RAdm Sandeep Singh Sandhu, NM
Senior Directing Staff
 (Navy)

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's 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's degree in Commerce and Education. They have two sons Gaurav and Rajat.



Shri Vijay Nehra, IAS
Senior Directing Staff
 (Civil Services)

Shri Vijay Nehra is a civil servant from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He belongs to the 2001 batch of Gujarat Cadre. He has more than twenty years of experience handling various assignments at the city, district and state level.

He has served as the District Development Officer (DDO) in Patan district of Gujarat and later as the Collector and District Magistrate of Vadodara and Ahmedabad districts. He received the best DDO award and the best Collector award twice from the state Government. He was also one of the first recipients of the Best District Election Officer award instituted by the Election Commission of India.

Subsequently, he has also served as the Municipal Commissioner of Rajkot and Ahmedabad city. He has rich experience of urban administration including urban planning, urban finance and project management. His last assignment before joining NDC was a Secretary, Department of Science & Technology with the Government of Gujarat.

He is married to Mrs Suman Nehra and they have two children, Aryan and Anaya who are both competitive swimmers.