New Delhi, Delhi, India, July 2026 — MAIT, the apex industry body representing India’s electronics and ICT hardware sector, has appointed Col Maninder Virdi as Senior Director, strengthening its leadership capabilities across telecommunications, digital infrastructure, policy advocacy, governance, and industry collaboration.
Col Maninder joins MAIT following an accomplished career of more than 28 years with the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals, where she led mission-critical communications, secure digital infrastructure, operational planning, procurement, training, administration, and large-scale workforce management across some of India’s most challenging operational environments.
In her new role, she will contribute to MAIT’s key strategic priorities across telecommunications, digital infrastructure, electronics, ICT, policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and industry-government collaboration. She will support initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s digital technology ecosystem, advancing resilient communication infrastructure, and enabling the development of a globally competitive electronics industry.
Prior to joining MAIT, Col Maninder served as Commanding Officer in the Indian Army, where she led a specialized operational unit on India’s western front and was responsible for operational readiness, human resource administration, training, and the development of a team of more than 350 personnel.
Earlier, she served as Grade 1 Staff Officer – Signals in a counter-intelligence field environment in Dimapur, overseeing training, HR management, administration, and equipment management across Signals units and sub-units under the headquarters. She also held the position of Grade 1 Staff Officer – Cipher at the Directorate General of Signals, where she managed the Army’s cipher documentation system and contributed to the evaluation and grading of sensitive security equipment.
As Grade 1 Staff Officer – Information Systems, she led the procurement, distribution, and management of IT assets for a major Army headquarters. Her earlier appointments included Senior Instructor at the Signals Training Centre, Second-in-Command of a specialized operational unit, and Grade 1 Staff Officer at the Additional Directorate General of Signal Intelligence, where she supported the consolidation and coordination of operational intelligence with nodal agencies.
Col Maninder also served as Human Resources Administrator for a workforce of approximately 750 personnel and as an instructor at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, where she was responsible for the military training and leadership development of women cadets preparing to become Army officers.
Her foundational assignments included serving as Communication Officer, Officer Commanding – LAN & Data Network, and Officer-in-Charge – Signal Centre & Exchange. Across these roles, she led the deployment of secure voice and data communication networks, network server configuration, optical fibre connectivity projects, and operational communications infrastructure across multiple military theatres.
Throughout her career, Col Maninder has developed extensive expertise in Telecommunications, Secure Communication Infrastructure, Digital Networks, Strategic Planning, Operational Leadership, Governance, Procurement, IT Asset Management, Stakeholder Management, Training, Leadership Development, Human Resource Administration, Risk Management, Policy Implementation, and Organizational Excellence.
Education: Col Maninder completed the General Management Program at the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, from January to June 2026. The program strengthened her business, management, and strategic leadership capabilities as she transitioned from military leadership into a senior industry role.
About MAIT
MAIT is the apex industry association representing India’s electronics, ICT hardware, digital technology, and information infrastructure sectors. Recognized by both government and industry, MAIT plays a central role in policy advocacy, industry representation, technology development, and the growth of India’s electronics and IT hardware ecosystem.
Headquartered in New Delhi, MAIT works across areas including cloud and analytics, intellectual property rights, skill development, electronics manufacturing, import and export policy, taxation, procurement reforms, e-governance, e-waste, startups, Industry 4.0, IoT, smart cities, and technology standards. Its membership includes manufacturers, system integrators, service providers, electronics manufacturing services companies, testing laboratories, recyclers, technology companies, consulting organizations, and infrastructure developers.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
