Late Professor (Dr.) Pankaj Jha
Founder & Executive Director, Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CeSCube)
Distinguished strategic scholar, national security advisor, educator, and visionary leader who dedicated his life to advancing Indian strategic thought, fostering independent security research, and mentoring the next generation of defense analysts.
Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Kumar Jha
Founding Visionary of CeSCube (1973–2024)
• Executive Director, CeSCube
• Former Deputy Director, NSCS (PMO)
• Former Director of Research, ICWA
• Founding Director, PKJ-CSS (JGU)
“Rigorous security analysis requires bridging the gap between high-level policy decision-making and young, passionate analytical minds. CeSCube was built to empower early-career scholars alongside veteran practitioners to produce uncompromised, objective research for national security.”
The Founding of CeSCube
Creation of an Independent National Security Think-Tank
The Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CeSCube) was conceptualized through extensive discussions between Professor (Dr.) Pankaj Jha and his student Aditya Singh Maurya, along with dedicated scholars. Recognizing the need for an agile, independent, and research-intensive platform, Dr. Jha envisioned CeSCube as a collaborative forum where academic rigor intersects with real-world defense policy.
Under his stewardship as Executive Director, CeSCube expanded its research desks across sub-conventional conflict, hybrid warfare, maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, counter-terrorism monitoring, and emerging military technologies.
Distinguished Career & Public Service
Key leadership roles across Government of India, think-tanks, and academia
Centre for Security Studies (CSS), Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), JGU
Founded the Centre for Security Studies (renamed Pankaj Kumar Jha Centre for Security Studies - PKJCSS in his honor). Mentored hundreds of students in international relations, defense policy, and strategic foresight.
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Ministry of External Affairs
Spearheaded national foreign policy research, led track-1.5 diplomatic dialogues, and published authoritative assessments on Indo-Pacific maritime security.
National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Govt of India
Advised on strategic threat assessments, national security policy coordination, counter-terrorism frameworks, and regional intelligence analysis.
Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)
Conducted cutting-edge research on South Asian security dynamics, Southeast Asia relations (Look East Policy), and sub-conventional warfare.
Following his demise in May 2024, O.P. Jindal Global University officially renamed its Centre for Security Studies to the Pankaj Kumar Jha Centre for Security Studies (PKJ-CSS) in recognition of his transformative leadership. At CeSCube, his founding principles continue to guide our research publications, policy briefs, and academic fellowships.