IICA–DGR Conclude Third Batch of Directors’ Certification Program for Senior Defence Officers.
90 Defence Officers Trained in Corporate Governance and Independent Directorship Since 2024.
New Delhi:
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), in collaboration with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under the Ministry of Defence, has successfully completed the third batch of the Directors’ Certification Program in Corporate Governance for senior defence officers. The valedictory ceremony was held on November 21, 2025, at the IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram.
The latest batch—comprising 30 serving and recently superannuated officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force—marks a milestone, bringing the total number of trained officers to 90 across three cohorts since the program began in August 2024.
Strategic Military Competencies Meet Corporate Governance Needs
In his welcome address, Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, DG & CEO of IICA, congratulated the officers for completing the intensive two-week program consisting of 35 specialised sessions spanning regulatory frameworks, financial stewardship, corporate governance systems, audit functions, enterprise risk management, CSR and sustainable governance.
He emphasized that defence officers’ strengths—strategic thinking, risk assessment, ethical judgment, and the ability to remain objective under pressure—make them valuable and impartial contributors in corporate boardrooms. Acknowledging the robust partnership with DGR, he reiterated IICA’s commitment to support alumni through ongoing learning and professional networking.
Governance with Responsibility, Not Maximization: Dr. K.P. Krishnan
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. K P Krishnan, former Secretary to the Government of India and Distinguished Fellow at Ashoka University, highlighted the crucial fiduciary role of independent directors.
He noted that independent directors act as protectors of minority shareholders and under-represented stakeholders, stressing that the position demands balanced judgment rather than maximization of interests.
He reminded participants that their decades-long experience in managing people, resources and complex operations uniquely equips them to understand and execute the responsibilities of independent directorship.
DGR–IICA Partnership Enabling Corporate Leadership Transition
In her keynote address, Sukriti Likhi, Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, underscored the growing synergy between IICA and DGR. She affirmed that the program empowers defence officers to bring their disciplined leadership, ethical standards and strategic decision-making capabilities into India’s evolving corporate landscape.
She described the collaboration as a strategic national initiative to support corporate India’s need for dynamic, ethical and future-ready board members while creating meaningful second-career pathways for defence personnel.
Rigorous Curriculum Rooted in Practical Learning
The two-week certification program was structured to provide deep conceptual and regulatory grounding in:
- Corporate governance frameworks and board effectiveness
- Roles and responsibilities of independent directors
- Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI LODR regulations
- Financial statement analysis
- Audit committee operations
- Enterprise risk management
- CSR, ESG and sustainability considerations
Training was delivered through classroom lectures, case studies, interactive sessions with practising independent directors, and exposure to real-world governance challenges. Sessions led by seasoned professionals helped participants understand parallels between military leadership and corporate expectations.
Graduates of the program are now eligible to register with the Independent Directors’ Databank (IDDB)—a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, maintained by IICA, which currently hosts over 35,000 independent directors, including more than 10,000 women, and is accessed by over 3,600 companies.
Strengthening India’s Governance Ecosystem
The IICA–DGR collaboration represents a forward-looking initiative to integrate the values of integrity, trust, discipline, and strategic vision—hallmarks of the armed forces—into the corporate governance landscape.
The program proceedings were coordinated by Dr. Niraj Gupta, Head, School of Corporate Governance & Public Policy, IICA, and Dr. Anindita Chakrabarti, Principal Research Associate, Centre for Independent Director Secretariat, IICA.
With its third batch now successfully concluded, the program continues to build a strong cadre of defence officers ready to contribute meaningfully to corporate boardrooms and governance structures across the country.
