IICA, DGR Conclude 4th Corporate Governance Course for Defence Officers

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), in partnership with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Ministry of Defence, successfully concluded the Fourth Batch of the Directors’ Certification in Corporate Governance for Defence Officers on 20th March 2026, at the IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram.

The two-week certification programme had 30 senior officers from all three services of the Indian Armed Forces. Since its inception in August 2024, the programme has now trained a 120 officers in four batches.

The programme aimed to provide the necessary tools for officers to translate this leadership experience into the corporate domain — familiarising participants with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing companies, the responsibilities of Independent Directors, financial oversight, risk management, ESG principles, and fiduciary duties.

Interactions with practitioners and serving Independent Directors offered participants experiential insight into corporate leadership realities.

The certificate ceremony held on 19th March 2026  was graced by Smt. Sukriti Likhi, Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), Ministry of Defence, as the Chief Guest, under the Chairmanship of Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO, IICA.

The DG & CEO, IICA underscored that the programme offers participants not only technical knowledge but also the opportunity to build a professional network of experienced corporate leaders, practitioners, and peers that will be invaluable as they transition into corporate roles. He encouraged the officer participants to stay connected with IICA and with each other, contributing to a growing community of defence officers advancing corporate governance excellence across India.

The Secretary, DESW commended the collaboration between IICA and DGR in creating meaningful post-retirement pathways for defence officers, and appreciated the academic leadership of IICA in ensuring that the programme equips participants with both the knowledge and the deeper understanding of responsibilities associated with corporate governance.

The Secretary situated the programme within the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasising that the transition of experienced military leaders into corporate governance roles represents not merely a career shift but a continuation of national service, and that by bringing their discipline, strategic thinking, and commitment to integrity into the corporate sector, these officers will contribute to building stronger organisations and more responsible institutions — both essential pillars of a developed and resilient India.

Dr. Niraj Gupta, Head, School of Corporate Governance and Public Policy, IICA, and Programme Director, set the thematic context at the outset of the programme. Dr. Anindita Chakrabarti, Principal Research Associate, IICA, led the proceedings of the programme.