HQ Integrated Defence Staff marks 25 years, highlights push for greater tri-service integration
New Delhi, Oct 2. Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) marked its Silver Jubilee, commemorating 25 years of its establishment and highlighting its role in promoting jointness, integration and synergy among India’s three armed forces.
The anniversary, observed as ‘Tri-Service Day’ on October 1, was celebrated under the theme ‘Future Readiness through Jointness & Integration’. As part of the celebrations, HQ IDS organised Trishakti Manthan, which featured addresses by Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, General NS Raja Subramani, and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh.
The deliberations focused on the contribution of HQ IDS to strengthening operational preparedness through joint operational doctrines, common training frameworks, integrated exercises and improved coordination of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
HQ IDS also released a Silver Jubilee Book documenting its evolution and major achievements since its establishment in 2001. A film showcasing key milestones of the organisation over the past 25 years was also screened.
Personnel who contributed to strengthening jointness and integration were presented with Chief of Defence Staff Unit Citations in recognition of their work.
The celebrations also included a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial and Museum, where tributes were paid to personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
Over the past 25 years, HQ IDS has expanded its focus beyond traditional domains to help prepare the armed forces for emerging security challenges in areas such as cyber, space and artificial intelligence.
The organisation has also promoted closer cooperation among the armed forces, research institutions, academia and industry to accelerate the development of indigenous defence capabilities in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence.
HQ IDS has established and supported several institutional platforms aimed at strengthening jointness and facilitating structured discussions on contemporary security challenges. These include Ran Samwad, the Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC) and the Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) Programme.
These mechanisms have sought to improve coordination and develop joint warfighting capabilities across the land, maritime, air, space, cyber and cognitive domains.
Established on October 1, 2001, HQ IDS has evolved into the apex institutional mechanism for promoting integration and synergy among the Army, Navy and Air Force. Its mandate has increasingly centred on enhancing military capabilities, enabling joint employment of combat power and aligning tri-service preparedness with national security objectives.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations thus highlighted the organisation’s evolution from a coordination mechanism into a key institution supporting India’s transition towards increasingly integrated and joint military operations.
