About Head

Prof (Dr.) Ramakant Dwivedi is, currently, Head, MERI Centre for International Studies, New Delhi. He is also Director of the India Central Asia Foundation (ICAF), New Delhi. He has a PhD from the Central Asian Studies Division of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Dr. Dwivedi was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Al-Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies, Tashkent (1998-2001). He was Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi (2003 – 2007). He had worked as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and Gp Director of Afghanistan, Central and West Asia Desk with the National Security Advisor Office, Prime Minister Office, Government of India (2007 – 2024). He has looked after a variety of domains assigned to him during the service. 

His major areas of research are national security, foreign policy, ethnic issues and religious extremism in Eurasian region (Russia, Caucasus and Central Asian countries). He holds a Diploma in the Russian Language from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent and a Diploma in the Uzbek Language from the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan. He has widely travelled in the Eurasian region. Dr Dwivedi was awarded Nehru Memorial Scholarship for Doctoral Studies by Prime Minister Museum and Library (earlier Nehru Memorial Museum and Library &Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund), Teen Murti House, New Delhi. He has represented India in 14 countries as domain expert and part of official delegation for scholarly presentations.His published works include 42 research papers in national/international journals, edited books. He has authored/edited nine books on international relations.

Dr. Dwivedi is Founding & Life Member of the India – Central Asia Foundation (ICAF), New Delhi; Life Member, United Services Institution of India (USI), New Delhi,  Life Member, India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), New Delhi and Associate Member, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), India International Centre (IIC), Press Club of India (PCI), New Delhi.