Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) & IAS (Retd.)

P. J. Thomas is a 1973-batch IAS officer with a distinguished 38-year career in public service. He served as the Chief Secretary of Kerala and later as the Telecom Secretary to the Government of India, where he was the key architect behind the successful 3G spectrum auction, which generated over ₹1 lakh crore for the exchequer.

He also served as the 14th Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India. His deep understanding of government policy, public procurement, and regulatory frameworks is invaluable to CSI in navigating the complex interface between startups and government institutions.

Company Secretary (CS) & Financial Expert

Chanchal Kukreja is a qualified Company Secretary and a corporate governance expert. She manages the financial integrity and regulatory compliance of the Council for Startup India.

With a deep understanding of the Companies Act and financial management, she ensures that the organization remains a transparent and efficient vehicle for supporting the Indian startup ecosystem.

Professor of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur

A renowned academic and researcher, Dr. A. K. Ghosh is a Professor at IIT Kanpur specializing in Flight Mechanics and Neural Networks.

He has been a lead instructor for NPTEL courses on aircraft design and maintenance and has overseen numerous flight-testing projects for the Indian aerospace sector.

At CSI, he bridges the gap between academic research and commercial aerospace startups, facilitating tech-transfer and lab-to-market transitions.

28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)

General Manoj Mukund Naravane is a legendary military leader who served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff. His tenure was marked by strong strategic leadership during the Ladakh standoff and a relentless push for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) in defense manufacturing.

As CSI’s Chief Strategic Advisor, he leads the initiative to identify and support startups capable of developing indigenous technologies that can replace imports and give the Indian military a technological edge.

Former President & COO, HCL Infosystems

J. V. Ramamurthy is a titan of the Indian IT industry. As the former President and COO of HCL Infosystems, he oversaw the company’s transformation into a multi-billion dollar system integration powerhouse.

With over three decades of experience, he is an expert in hardware manufacturing, ICT services, and global supply chain management. At CSI, he serves as a direct mentor to founders, helping them navigate the complexities of scaling operations and building world-class technology companies.

Former Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

K. B. Prasad is a seasoned administrator who served at the highest levels of the Indian government. During his tenure as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, he handled critical portfolios related to internal security, governance, and policy implementation.

His role at CSI involves advising on the "Ease of Doing Business" for startups and ensuring that policy advocacy efforts effectively reach the right bureaucratic channels.

IA&AS; Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)

K. Subramaniam is a former high-ranking officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) who served as the Deputy CAG.

He is a global expert in public procurement, risk management, and financial oversight, having advised international organizations like the World Bank and various UN agencies.

His expertise ensures that the startups mentored by CSI maintain high standards of financial transparency and audit compliance, making them "investment-ready" for global venture capital.

Principal Advisor, Ministry of Defence; Former Military Advisor, NSCS

Lt. Gen. Vinod G. Khandare is a veteran of the Indian Army with over four decades of service in high-intensity operational environments, including Siachen and J&K.

. He served as the Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and later as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) under the Prime Minister's Office.

His expertise in national security and defense strategy is instrumental for CSI’s Defence Innovation wing, helping startups align their technologies with the modernization needs of the Indian Armed Forces.

Corporate Leader (HCL, Oracle, Birla Group); Social Entrepreneur

With over 23 years of experience in the global corporate sector, Meenu Ghosh is the operational architect of the Council for Startup India.

. Having held senior leadership roles at HCL Technologies, Oracle India, and the Birla Group, she brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, business development, and vendor management. Beyond corporate success, she is a dedicated social worker, serving as Vice Chairperson at Thakur Anukul Chandra Sansthan and working with the National Commission for Women. Her mission at CSI is to bridge the gap between corporate efficiency and grassroots innovation, particularly in the industrialization of agriculture.

CEO, Taqanal Energy; Former Leader at Cisco & Juniper

A veteran technologist with over 35 years of experience, Mohan Satyarajan has been a pivotal force in the Silicon Valley and Indian tech landscapes.

He played a key role in building billion-dollar business units from the ground up at Cisco and Juniper Networks. Currently the CEO of Taqanal Energy, his expertise spans high-performance networking, storage, and renewable energy technology. At CSI, he mentors startups in the deep-tech space, focusing on scalability and global technical standards.

Former Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand & Secretary (Personnel), GOI

A 1980-batch IAS officer, N. Ravi Shankar has held significant positions including Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India.

Throughout his career, he has focused on infrastructure, industrial development, and administrative reforms. At CSI, he provides strategic counsel on navigating state-level policies and leveraging government schemes for startup growth.

Director, IIT Kanpur; Computer Scientist

Dr. Manindra Agrawal is a world-renowned theoretical computer scientist and the current Director of IIT Kanpur. He is the co-creator of the AKS Primality Test, the first deterministic polynomial-time algorithm for testing primality—a breakthrough for which he won the Gödel Prize and the Fulkerson Prize.

He has also designed private-key encryption for the Indian Armed Forces. His role at CSI is to provide the highest level of scientific and technical guidance for startups in AI, cryptography, and computing.

Former Scientist, DRDO & NAL; Aerospace Expert

Prof. Jitender Singh is a veteran aerospace scientist who has worked with the DRDO and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

He was the Program Manager for India's National Civil Aircraft Development program and is the only Flight Test Engineer in India to have worked on the certification of the Airbus A320neo.

At CSI, he works on integrating MSMEs into the high-tech supply chains of the aerospace and defense sectors, fostering localized manufacturing.

Former Sr. VP (Corporate Finance), Reliance Industries; CEO, GTL Infra

Ravi Ananth is a finance and operations heavyweight with over 40 years of experience across India’s top corporations. He held senior leadership roles at Reliance Industries (RIL), where he was involved in large-scale project implementation for Reliance Jio and Reliance Petroleum.

As the former CEO of GTL Infrastructure, he has closed multi-billion dollar deals. At CSI, he leads global finance collaborations, helping startups secure large-scale funding and manage complex infrastructure projects.

Former Additional Secretary, DPIIT

Shailendra Singh, a 1988-batch IAS officer, was a key figure at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), where he spearheaded major initiatives under the Startup India flagship program.

His expertise lies in industrial policy, FDI regulations, and building linkages between the industry and the government. At CSI, he focuses on strengthening the ecosystem by connecting startups with established industrial players and ensuring they benefit from DPIIT-led reforms.

CEO, BioNEST, IIT Guwahati; PhD in Population Genetics

Dr. Swapnil Sinha is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur who leads the Bio-Incubation Centre (BioNEST) at IIT Guwahati. With a background in population genetics and experience in co-founding healthcare startups, she is an expert in nurturing early-stage biotech and ed-tech ventures.

Her role at CSI is to guide startups through the rigorous process of taking a laboratory innovation and turning it into a viable, market-ready product.

Former Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS)

Vice Admiral Satishkumar Namdeo Ghormade served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, bringing nearly 40 years of naval leadership to CSI.

A specialist in Navigation and Direction, he commanded several frontline ships including the guided-missile frigate INS Brahmaputra.

At CSI, he mentors startups in the maritime and naval technology space, focusing on indigenization, underwater sensors, and autonomous marine systems.

Founder, Databyte; IIT Mumbai Alumnus; Former TIFR Scientist

: Vishram Bapat is a pioneer in the Indian IT hardware and software space. He started his career as a Scientific Officer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), working on classified Air Force projects.

He later founded Databyte, an IT hardware and software company. An IIT Mumbai alumnus, he brings deep expertise in electronics, wireless sensor networks, and defense technology. He leads the technology vision at CSI, focusing on "Make in India" initiatives in the electronics sector.