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Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni

Ph.D., National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
Assistant Professor, Subhas Chandra Bose Chair on International Relations

Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni

Ph.D., National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
sanket.k@chanakyauniversity.edu.in
South Asia, Geopolitics, Drone warfare, Strategy for Defence & Aerospace manufacturing, National Security, Counter-Terrorism

My primary areas of research interests spans across the domain of South Asian studies, energy geopolitics, foreign affairs, and Defence and Aerospace issues. At Chanakya University, I am focussed on tracking developments in the Af-Pak region, Bangladesh and larger South Asian region from a security and geopolitical point of view. I would be also looking at engagement of external powers with South Asian countries, its implications on India’s foreign and security policy.

Specifically, I would be carrying research on understanding what is India’s Pakistan policy, how has it evolved over the last few decades and key determinants and actors influencing the policy. I am also keen to understand the developments inside Afghanistan post the Taliban takeover and how it shapes India’s larger engagement with that part of the region.

Leveraging my Industry, Government and policy engagement experience I also want to spearhead research work on understanding drone warfare and lessons India can draw from such global conflicts. This also includes looking at drone technology development in India’s neighbourhood and how India can build a robust anti-drone ecosystem to insulate from security threats.

Dr. Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni is an Assistant Professor at the Subhas Chandra Bose Chair on International Relations. He has nine years of cross-sectoral work experience which includes successful tenures as a Group Head at Adfactors PR Pvt. Ltd., Senior Manager at Jio Platforms Ltd., Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and Consultant with the Economic Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.

Sanket brings with him operational experience on how policy formulation and decision making is undertaken within industry and Governments. He has worked with wide ranging stakeholders to collate industry feedback on drone policy formulation and recommending key steps as part of a major industry study to strengthen drone manufacturing ecosystem in the country. He has also crafted strategies for C-suite clients in the aerospace and defence & other sectors for their public relations and government engagement endeavours.

Sanket has written extensively on national security, foreign policy, energy geopolitics and defence matters across reputed platforms. He has published papers in reputed national and international journals and written oped columns. He has appeared as a guest on reputed podcasts shows & news channels. His opinions have also been widely quoted by India Today, CNBC TV 18, Medianama and other news platforms on strategic affairs. He also co-authored a major study on drone technology which was published by the prestigious World Economic Forum as a White Paper.

  • Ph.D., National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru (degree awarded by Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal)
  • M.A. (Defence and Strategic Studies), Bhonsala Military College, Nashik
  • B.A. (Defence and Strategic Studies), Bhonsala Military College, Nashik

Journal Papers

  1. ‘India’s Decision Making on Cross Border Natural Gas Pipelines (1989-2012)’, Volume 40, No. 5, Strategic Analysis, Routledge, Taylor and Francis, UK. Author: Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni
  2. ‘The Elephant and the Tiger: Energy Security, Geopolitics, and National Strategy in China and India’s Cross Border Gas Pipelines’, Energy Research and Social Science, Volume 11, January 2016, Elsevier, Authors: Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni and Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan.
  3. ‘Pipeline Politics- A Case Study of India’s Proposed Cross Border Gas Projects’, Energy Policy, Elsevier, Volume 62, November 2013. Authors: Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan, Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni and Dilip R. Ahuja.

White Paper

  1. Drones: Ensuring cost-effective maintenance of oil and gas pipelines’, White Paper, World Economic Forum, Switzerland, March 2022. Authors: Rajan Luthra, Rashmi Bhangale, Sanket Kulkarni and Vignesh Santhanam.

Issue Brief

  1. ‘India’s import diversification strategy for natural gas: An analysis of geopolitical implications’, ORF Issue Brief No. 330, 06 December 2019, Observer Research Foundation. Authors: Sanket Sudhir Kulkarni and Ameya Pimpalkhare.

Project 1

  • Title: Cross Border Electricity Trade in South Asia and regional Integration – Potential Assessment, Underlying Factors, and Policy Options
  • Duration: 2 years
  • Granting Agency: South Asian Network of Economic Research Institutes
  • PIs/Co PIs: Co PI
  • Purpose: Understanding potential for electricity trade in South Asia
  • Short Description: The project involved studying electricity generation potential in countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. It required study of non-technical factors such as political economy in these countries, status of bilateral relations and sentiments within civil society of these countries towards energy trade in South Asia.
  • Status: Completed
  • Grant Amount: US$ 10,000

  • Visiting Fellow, Manohar-Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi (2014-2015)

Newspaper and Online Articles

  1. ‘Making sense of President Trump’s China visit’, ET Edge Insights, 19 May 2026.
  2. ‘India’s AMCA fighter jet programme: Indigenous, ambitious and in urgent need of whole-of-nation approach’, The Indian Express, 28 June 2025.
  3. ‘Scaling Maharashtra’s Defence Sector’, Observer Research Foundation, 19 July 2025.
  4. ‘Countering Rogue Drones: Why India Should Lead Multinational Exercises’, Observer Research Foundation, 22 September 2025.
  5. ‘The Gulf Region: Big Market Opportunity Awaits Indian Anti-Drone Companies’, Raksha Anirveda, 18 March 2026.
  6. ‘From Agniveer To Anti-Drone Specialist — How India Can Use Its ‘Military Resources’ To Fight UAV Menace: OPED’, Eurasian Times, 26 July 2025.

Podcast

  1. Why Did The Iran- Israel War Actually Begin? , In conversation with Mr. Cyrus Broacha on his show Cyrus Says
  2. Deadly uses of Drone Technology ft. Dr. Sanket Kulkarni in conversation with Ms. Sampada Vaze on her show Unscripted with Sampada Vaze
  3. Role of Defence Analyst, skill sets needed and job market, in conversation with Mr. Ashish Deshpande on Skills संवाद
  4. Career prospects in Defence and Aerospace manufacturing in India, in conversation with Mr. Ashish Deshpande on Skills संवाद

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