Mohammad Salman serves as the Executive Director – Head of the Forum of the CDFA Research Foundation and provides overall leadership and strategic direction to the organization. As the Head of the CDFA Executive Council and General Secretary of the Governing Council, he plays a pivotal role in institutional development, research planning, and policy advocacy. He also heads the Division of Governance, Policy and Development, where he oversees critical research projects focused on public policy, state capacity, administrative reforms, and democratic accountability in India and the Global South.

He is Principal Editor of The Research Frontline, CDFA’s flagship academic and policy journal, and has been instrumental in establishing CDFA as a dynamic knowledge hub. His leadership reflects a balance of grassroots engagement and rigorous academic inquiry, rooted in a lifelong commitment to social equity, public reasoning, and ethical governance.

Mohammad Salman holds a Bachelor’s degree in History (Honors) from Jamia Millia Islamia with International Relations and Journalism as minors, and a Master’s degree in History and Culture through from the same university. His academic interests are deeply embedded in the study of medieval and early modern South Asia, public policy frameworks, and geopolitics.

A native of Sultanpur, and early education from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, and now based in Delhi, Mohammad Salman has a decade-long experience in advocacy, community development, and public discourse. He is the Founder of The Social Crowd India and the editorial lead of CDFAReports.com. His initiatives focus on creating safe academic and policy spaces for marginalized voices and driving dialogue between civil society, academia, and institutions of governance.

Email: mohammadsalman@cdfaindia.org

Email: mdsalman.hashim@rediffmail.com

Office Address: CDFA Research Foundation, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi – 110025