The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) celebrated its 25th Raising Day here on Wednesday. Established on 1st October 2001, the HQ IDS, conceived as a permanent institution for promoting jointness and integration in the Armed Forces, has emerged as the fulcrum of tri-service synergy vanguard for new domains like Cyber and space, a key enabler in shaping India’s integrated military preparedness.
In a statement issued here, the Ministry of Defence stated that over the years, HQ IDS has continued the trajectory and has supported the creation of new joint military structures, besides contributing to initiatives aimed at establishing integrated theatre-level mechanisms.
In capability development, HQ IDS has facilitated tri-service roadmaps and actively engaged with national research organisations and industry partners to accelerate indigenous solutions, in line with the vision of Atmanirbharta in defence.
While it provided a platform for the highest military and civilian leadership, it has also been instrumental in conducting the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the apex level. It also coordinated Joint Staff Talks with friendly nations and contributed to multinational defence cooperation frameworks at the bilateral and multilateral level.
Making Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) a priority, HQ IDS supported national disaster response through coordinated exercises and deployments, the statement said, adding the Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) Programme improved training and education in 2025.
At the same time, HQ IDS has advanced India’s preparedness in emerging domains such as cyber, artificial intelligence (AI), and space by promoting cross-service integration, facilitating dialogue with scientific institutions and driving adoption of new technologies for military applications.
It outlined a roadmap to deepen integration further, with emphasis on enhancing joint operational doctrines, institutionalising training frameworks that combine cutting-edge technology with strategic foresight and expanding India’s role in multilateral security cooperation, the statement read.