Dr. Mohammad Arif is a distinguished academician and higher education administrator, currently serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi. With over 26 years of extensive teaching and research experience, he has established himself as a prominent scholar in the fields of South Asian security and international relations. His academic journey began at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where he earned his B.A. (1988), M.A. (1990), and M.Phil. (1992), culminating in a Ph.D. in 1995. His doctoral research focused on the dimensions of national security in SAARC countries, reflecting his long-standing engagement with regional security issues.
In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Arif has demonstrated strong leadership and administrative capabilities through a range of significant institutional roles. He currently serves as Director of the Har Prasad Gupt Incubation Foundation at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship within the university ecosystem. He also served as Director of the Ranking and Accreditation Cell from 2021 to 2025, where he played a vital role in enhancing institutional quality and academic standards. Earlier, he held the position of Finance Officer at the university in 2018, gaining valuable experience in financial governance and institutional management.
At the national level, Dr. Arif served as Joint Secretary at the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, from 2013 to 2017, where he contributed to higher education policy formulation and regulatory processes. His contributions to academia and leadership have been widely recognized through prestigious honors, including the International Academic Leadership Excellence Award (2025) and the Indo-Asian Distinguished Professor Award (2021). These accolades underscore his sustained commitment to academic excellence, research, and institutional development.