About
My work sits at the intersection of international law, military technology, and security landscape, with a sustained focus on the legal regulation of AI-enabled warfare. I examine autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems, evolving targeting and command architectures, and the legal and policy challenges that emerge when battlefield decision-making is increasingly mediated by software, sensor fusion, machine learning, and distributed operational chains.
I studied law at the University of Edinburgh and pursued further studies at Maastricht University. Over 12 years of strategic research and practitioner experience in defence, human rights and security have taken me across the United Nations system, India’s Parliament, government-mandated national commissions, and frontier technology companies working at the intersection of AI and intelligent systems.
Born and raised in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi. I have lived, studied, and worked across South Asia, West Asia, the United Kingdom, and Europe. I was nominated as UN Youth Ambassador for India and have received global civilian honours including the Karamveer Chakra and the Asia Youth Leaders Award.
I currently serve as Director for Research at CIHS, a New Delhi-based think tank. I also curate TEDxSrinagar.
The broader vision informing my work is outlined on https://rahulpawa.com/vision/
Honours, Appointments & Affiliations
Research Fellow, Rajya Sabha (2023-Present): Engaged in policy and legislative research supporting parliamentary dialogue, contributing analysis that strengthens public policy, evidence-based debate, and institutional decision-making within India’s Parliament.
Expert, National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) (2019–2023): Advised on child-protection policy and legislative amendments in Jammu & Kashmir, and led capacity-building programmes for law enforcement on online safety of children, social media risks, and anti-grooming interventions, alongside training law enforcement officials on child trafficking.
Contributor, Amman Declaration on Youth, Peace & Security (2015): Contributed to the formulation of the Amman Declaration, working alongside the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, a process that informed momentum toward the unanimous adoption of UNSC Resolution 2250 (2015).
Global Youth Advocate, Post-2015 Agenda (2014-2015): Supported youth mobilisation for the MDGs-to-SDGs transition, advancing UN Millennium Campaign outreach aligned with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s leadership, including global MyWorld2030 and WorldWeWant2030 campaigns through youth networks, digital engagement and campaign strategy development and implementation
UN Women Gender Equality Ambassador (2014-2015): Served as an ambassador and advocate for UN Women’s HeForShe in India, amplifying gender equality, engaging communities and institutions, and contributing to sustained public awareness for women’s rights.
Award of Appreciation, Asia Youth Leaders Summit (2012): Recognised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and the British Council for youth leadership and contributions to civic engagement and public-impact initiatives.
Organiser & Curator, TEDxSrinagar (2011-Present): Pioneered one of the earliest global-conference platforms in Jammu & Kashmir by bringing the TEDx format to Srinagar, curating ideas, convening diverse voices, and sustaining a long-running stage for public dialogue and inspiration.
UNV Karamveer Chakra National Medallion (2011): Conferred the Karamveer Chakra National Medallion, the prestigious global recognition conferred by the International Confederation of NGOs in association with the United Nations, for public-impact leadership and service.
Youth Ambassador, Mission Eye International (2010-2011): Honoured for community-based advocacy promoting women’s empowerment and gender equity, working closely with local stakeholders in Chand Ki Badi Village, Muzaffarnagar (Bihar) to strengthen awareness, participation and dignity-driven development.
United Nations Youth Ambassador Nominee (2009): Nominated to represent India at the UN Headquarters, New York, in recognition of sustained grassroots work advancing youth, peace, and security outcomes across Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
Founder, United Youth of India Foundation (2008-2014): Founded and led a youth-led non-profit focused on empowering young Indians through practical leadership, dialogue, and community action, driving early, nationally visible initiatives at the intersection of peace-building, gender, and security.
Memberships
Member, British Society of Criminology (BSC) (2026-Present): Awarded membership, reflecting active engagement with criminological scholarship and participation in one of the foremost professional networks advancing criminology research and policy in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Founding Member, Emerging Technology Professionals Association (ETPA) (2025-Present): Helped establish a deep-tech professional body advancing ethics and best practice across AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and other frontier technologies.
Life Member, South Asian Society of Criminology & Victimology (SASCV) (2025): Awarded life membership, reflecting sustained engagement with criminology and victimology scholarship and regional professional networks.
Founding Member, AI & Quantum Futures Alliance (AIQFA) (2024-Present): Engaged in public consultations, policy roundtables, and scholarly panels in Delhi, collaborating with academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to bridge ethical inquiry with legal analysis on AI-enabled machines.
Member, Scottish Young Lawyers Association (SYLA) (2016-Present): Active member of Scotland’s early-career legal network, engaging with professional development forums, legal-community initiatives, and practitioner-led events.
