Dr Raj Kumar Sharma

Dr Raj Kumar Sharma holds a PhD from Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi where he was recepient of UGC Senior Research Fellowship in International Relations and Area Studies. He had also cleared Junior Research Fellowship in Human Rights and Duties and UGC NET in Political Science. He has almost 15 years of experience in university teaching, think tank research and media. His research focuses on developments and security architecture in Eurasia, Russia, Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Arctic. His previous associations include think tanks and universities like NatStrat and United Service Institution of India (USI), New Delhi, Delhi School of Transnational Affairs, Institution of Eminence, University of Delhi and Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. Dr Sharma started his career as a Journalist at India’s biggest news agency, Press Trust of India in New Delhi. He is Advisory Committee member at the Centre for International Studies, MERI Group of Institutions, New Delhi. Dr Sharma is a Governing Body member of India Central Asia Foundation and a Subject Matter Expert on Eurasia, BRICS, SCO & Russia at New Delhi based think tank, CENJOWS. He is also associated with another think tank, The Indian Futures in New Delhi. He is also an expert at the Project Office for Arctic Development, Moscow. He was also a Consultant at National Testing Agency. Dr Sharma has more than 100 publications including books, articles in SCOPUS-indexed and peer reviewed journals, occasional papers, think tank websites and newspaper commentaries. He has also been part of studies on China, Pakistan and Bangladesh conducted by USI for the Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. His latest publication is a special feature on India’s Strategic Autonomy, a co-edited volume with Ambassador Pankaj Saran containing articles from India’s foremost strategic thinkers and practitioners. He is also a recipient of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan Fellowship 2025 under which he conducted his research at National Chengchi University, Taipei. He was also invited by the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan as an International Election Observer for Parliamentary Elections in October 2024. In recent years, he has visited Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Taiwan and South Korea where he was invited to speak in conferences and deliver lectures. Dr Sharma’s expert comments are regularly quoted by national and international media on foreign and national security issues critical to India. His research paper, ‘Strategic Culture and India Russia Relations: Friends Forever’ was given the Best Paper award at the Asian Dialogue organised by The Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund at the St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg in June 2023. Dr Sharma was selected for Youth Exchange Program by the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council, United Kingdom in 2001. He also represented Haryana at National Level Football Championships in Under-17 and Under-19 categories.