IDSA: Thinking Ahead for MoD

By Sujan R Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA

The Institution

The IDSA was registered as a society on November 11, 1965. The initiative for setting up a non-partisan, autonomous research institute, dedicated to national security, came from then Defence Minister Shri Yeshwantrao Chavan, who was one of the Institute’s founding members.

In the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-Indian war, a need was felt to establish a research outfit aligned to the government.The 1962 Sino-Indian war, and subsequent defeat to China, shook the nation and exposed numerous shortcomings in the higher defence management. One of the glaring lacunae was the lack of institutional capacity in the government in strategic thinking. A need, therefore, was felt to set up a strategic affairs think tank in the country to provide independent, unbiased inputs to policymakers.

In the West, the onset of the Cold War had given a fillip to the mushrooming growth of think tanks. The West had some well-known institutions like the RAND Corporation in the US and Chatham House and the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in the UK. India had no significant institution of independent thinking on foreign policy and security matters. There was little understanding among the public about international affairs. Within the government, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was also the External Affairs Minister, conducted the foreign policy essentially single-handedly, without the benefit of considered inputs from within or outside the government. The ministries involved with foreign policy and national security were busy dealing with immediate issues, with hardly any time for strategic thinking. The Joint Intelligence Committee was functioning within the government but its influence on policy making was debatable. Universities did not even have international relations or defence studies departments. A few individuals used to write on their own but without much influence on policy making.

While the need for an institution that could focus on long-range thinking was felt, it took some years before a think tank in the public domain could be set up. The Indo-Pak war of 1965 provided the trigger to set up a think tank. The initiative was taken by the Defence Minister Y. B. Chavan, the Chief of Army Staff Gen. J. N. Choudhuri and the Defence Secretary P. V. R. Rao. They studied the structure of the RAND Corporation and the IISS and settled on the IISS as a model for the IDSA. Eventually, it was decided to set up the IDSA as a registered autonomous society, whose funding would come from the Ministry of Defence. The Institute had a body of members, a Memorandum of Association and an Executive Council (EC), some of whose members, including the president, would be elected. The EC was entitled to frame its own rules. To this day the same model remains in operation.”

IDSA was renamed as the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Development Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) on 15 November 2021, through an MoD notification, which was endorsed by the Annual General Body Meeting of the Institute.

As per MP-IDSA’s Memorandum, the objective of the organisation was “to initiate study, discussion and research on problems of National Security and impact of Defence measures on economic, social and political processes”, and to promote research and exchange of information on “defence studies and analyses, strategy, disarmament and international relations”. Over the years, the ambit of research and analyses at MP-IDSA has expanded. In tune with the times, there along with traditional hard security issues, the institution has added non-traditional security issues as an important area of research.

The vision statement of the Institute adopted in 2007 brought further clarity to institution’s activities and emphasised on policy-oriented research, training and capacity building and public education.¹ The Institute has played a crucial role in shaping India’s foreign and security policies. Its contribution has been particularly visible in areas related to nuclear weapons, military expenditure, and conventional and non-conventional threats to India. Today it works at the confluence of defence, security and international relations.

The MP-IDSA’s larger mission has been to promote national and international security through generation and dissemination of knowledge on defence and security issues among the larger strategic community in India and the world. It has also served as a forum to debate various issues related to national and international security. Through regular conferences, seminars, roundtables, lectures/talks and workshops participated by practitioners, academics, journalists and strategic analysts, the Institute helps generate ideas, analyses and policy inputs relevant for use by the decision makers of the country.  The Institute also runs regular training modules for the armed forces and paramilitary forces, particularly for the Border Security Forces (BSF), the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), as well as Defence Attaches joining Indian Missions across the world.

Structure

The MP-IDSA is funded entirely by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. However, this, in no way, affects its independence. It is governed by a neutral and non-partisan Executive Council, whose members include distinguished personalities from all walks of life. Its activities are supported by committees covering different aspects of the Institute’s work. These committees include, Human Resources and Academic Committee, Finance and Administration Committee and Membership Committee. The members of the Executive Council are elected for two-year terms at the Annual General Body Meeting.

The Institute has well-qualified multi-disciplinary research scholars drawn from academia, defence forces and the civil services, representing a diversity of views. This helps in cross-fertilization of ideas and strengthens the quality of research. The scholars are chosen through open interviews. Apart from dedicated research scholars, the Institute encourages serving officials from government, military services, academics and media to join the Institute from time to time. Some of them move on to assume higher positions in the government and academia subsequently, strengthening the linkages between the Institute and the government.

The Institute also offers an internship programme for budding scholars from India and abroad. The Programme is highly competitive and especially useful for young students who have completed a first degree in any discipline relevant to the work of MP-IDSA. Internships ideally last for a period of not less than six months and can be extended to a year on mutual agreement.

The Institute also has a residential visiting fellowship programme that invites scholars working on subjects relevant to the field of international relations and area studies, or relevant themes that have a bearing on national, regional or international security. The programme provides scholars an opportunity to carry out substantive research in an exciting intellectual environment. These arrangements prove quite helpful in promoting diversity and inter-cultural learning at the Institute.

The Institute also offers the India-Africa Security Fellowship to visiting scholars from Africa, giving them an opportunity to interact with India’s research community and to pursue research on topics that may enhance our understanding of security challenges in Africa or possibilities of enhancing India-Africa Security cooperation.

Autonomy

Although the MP-IDSA is funded by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, it has right since inception, protected and maintained its autonomy. The government does not interfere with the setting up of the Institute’s research agenda, nor does it censor its content. Its scholars are encouraged to express their views freely. The structure of the Institute helps it to maintain its autonomy. The Executive Council of the Institute, which consists of elected members, including the President and a few ex-officio members from the government, is fully empowered to take decisions pertaining to personnel, establishment, administration etc. The Director General ofthe Institute decides the research agenda. The system has functioned well and is a model for other government funded Institutes as to how best to maintain their autonomy.

Research Centres and Output

The MP-IDSA’s research output over the years has been wide-ranging, comprehensive and deep. There is hardly any issue of international, regional and national security, which researchers of the Institute have not written about. MP-IDSA scholars have contributed significantly to the debates on nuclear issues, higher defence management, internal security and India’s relations with great powers, its neighbours, maritime security and national security institutions etc. During the process, the MP-IDSA has contributed to the development of strategic thinking in the country.

The research activities of the Institute are conducted by different centres focusing on different areas. There are 13 research centres in the Institute. They are arranged on the basis of area studies, as well as critical themes pertaining to internal and external security. They are:

1. East Asia Centre
2. West Asia Centre
3. South Asia Centre
4. South East Asia and Oceania
5. Counter Terrorism Centre
6. North America & Strategic Technologies Centre
7. Europe and Eurasia Centre
8. Africa, Latin America, Caribbean & UN Centre
9. Nuclear Arms and Arms Control Centre
10. Internal Security Centre
11. Military Affairs Centre
12. Non-traditional Security Centre
13. Defence Economics and Industry

Publications

The Institute’s publications serve as the primary medium for disseminating these insights and recommendations.

MP-IDSA publishes two peer-reviewed research journals—Strategic Analyses and Journal of Defence Studies. The Strategic Analyses, a bi-monthly peer reviewed journal, provides a forum for independent research, analyses and commentaries on national, regional and international security issues that have policy relevance. The journal reflects a diversity of views from the strategic and international relations studies community both from within and outside India. The Journal of Defence Studies is a quarterly journal that focuses on critical issues in defence, national security and strategic affairs. It has evolved as an important forum for deliberations and sharing of research findings and opinions of scholars working on defence-related issues, both within MP-IDSA and elsewhere.

In addition, the Institute also publishes the CBW Magazine: Journal on Chemical and Biological Weapons; and Africa Trends, a quarterly magazine which provides readers with reviews and analyses of significant developments taking place in African countries that impact regional and global security.

MP-IDSA also brings out a plethora of News Digests, which provide comprehensive and focused coverage on important issues relating to specific geographies or issue areas. The News Digests published by the Institute are: Africa Digest, China Military Digest, China Science & Technology Review, Cyber Digest, Defence Newsletter, East Asia Military Monitor, Eurasia Digest, Insight Southeast Asia, Iran Digest, Jammu & Kashmir Digest, Japan Digest, Korea Newsletter, Non-Traditional Security Digest, Pakistan News Digest, PoK News Digest, Strategic Digest, Sylloge on China, Sylloge on West Asia, Terror Tracker, US & Canada Newsletter and West Asia Digest.

Besides the long-form publications such as Books, Monographs and Occasional Papers offer in-depth perspectives on strategic, security, geopolitical and defence-related themes, and task force reports and projects for the government,

MP-IDSA Library

The MP-IDSA Library continues to be the primary source of information with a rich collection of 60,811 books and a number of CD-ROM database. During 2024-25, 328 new books were added to the library collection.  It maintains 150 current journals in print and electronic/online versions and subscribes to 19 National newspapers in print and one newspaper online. The library also offers 22,627 old journals in bound volumes.

The Library activities, viz., acquisition, cataloguing, circulation and inventory control have been computerised. The Library Holdings Database, i.e., the online catalogue, can be accessed through the internal LAN. The MP-IDSA Library’s Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) has also been uploaded on the internet and can be accessed by all. MP-IDSA scholars can reserve, as well as indent books from their desks. The Library recorded 1,37,99,040 hits during the year under review for its online resources.

The Information Services Group (ISG) provides Internet-based information services to MP-IDSA scholars and also to MP-IDSA members and officials in the government. 4,135 information service requests were attended to during the year.

The list of New Arrivals is made available on MP-IDSA website and is also mailed to individual scholars.

The important online resources accessible to members are:

S. No.	Title
1.	Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
2.	Chinese Journal of International Law
3.	Chinese Journal of International Politics
4.	Diplomat
5.	EIU Country Report (19), India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia,  UAE, Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka
6.	International Studies Quarterly + Foreign Policy Analysis + International Studies Perspective + International Studies Review+ Int. Political sociology + Journal of Global Security Studies
7.	Jane’s Defence News Module
8.	JSTOR
9.	Political Science Quarterly
10.	Financial Times (Online) Newspapers

In addition to maintaining the above resources, the library provides the following services to the members:

1. Select Bibliographies on request
2. Books/ Articles Alert
3. Information on specific research topics
4. SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information Service)
5. Current Journal Contents
6. CAS (Current Awareness Service)
7. Reference Service
8. Referral Service

MP-IDSA Website

The Institute has a very active website (www.idsa.in) which provides a forum for debate on contemporary issues. The website hosts Comments, Issue Briefs, Policy Briefs, Special Features and Backgrounders, which provide concise insights on topical national and global developments. The commentaries published in the website are widely followed and commented upon. Most of the publications are freely available on the Institute’s website.

MP-IDSA GIS Unit

The MP-IDSA GIS Section develops maps to aid the research work of scholars. The cartographic maps are prepared at an appropriate scale so that the theme (as per the objectives and requirements of the research scholars) can be depicted in a clear, precise and focused manner, with the help of mapping software and by collecting geographical and spatial information from authentic open sources.

The GIS section maintains a Geo-Spatial Database, wherein information and maps, related to natural, political, administrative, economic, social, cultural aspects, defence and security issues of various countries is stored and regularly maintained with special focus on South Asian countries. Geo-Spatial Database is periodically updated and new data added for future use. The customised maps are regularly used by the research scholars for their reference, in seminar presentations, project reports and for publication purposes.

MP-IDSA Strategy

Policy relevant research

The Institute focuses on research on critical areas of interest to policymakers and strategic analysts. In order to make its research policy relevant, the Institute organises regular interface with policymakers, analysts, media and academics. Such interactions help the scholars identify research areas of critical importance, establish contact and communication with larger strategic community and enrich their understanding of issues affecting the larger security environment.

Emphasis on Dissemination

For dissemination of research outcomes, the Institute organises regular workshops and seminars where the scholars present their findings in an open forum subject to critical scrutiny by peers and experts. It takes the help of its publications which are circulated widely to disseminate the final outcome of research. The scholars also write regularly in vernacular and English language print media, and appear in the audio-visual media as well to debate issues relating to their areas of research.  Since 2019, the Institute’s presence on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook etc has increased significantly.

Sensitisation of Strategic community

The Institute organises regular training programmes/workshops for civil servants, servicemen and paramilitary personnel on security and international affairs. The training modules are carefully prepared to inform the trainees about the changing security environment, international perspectives on different issues of importance like human rights, non-traditional security, strategic technologies etc. Such programmes also ensure interaction of scholars with the security personnel, and acquaint them with the concerns, anxieties, and expectations of the people managing security at the ground level.

Building Networks

The Institute has signed bilateral MoUs with more than 30 think-tanks around the world engaged in research on security and international affairs. Some of them are affiliated to governments in different countries. This helps the Institute to engage in track-II and track-1.5 dialogues with these partner organisations. Inputs from such bilateral conversations are fed into the track-I on a regular basis. These interactions enable linkages among strategic communities and provide an opportunity for researchers of the Institutes to strengthen their understanding of bilateral and international issues. At the internal level, within India, the Institute has also tried to build linkages with other think-tanks engaged in strategic research. The Institute also collaborates with Indian universities.

Regular interaction with the government

The Institute benefits a lot from regular interaction with government officials working in areas related to security and foreign policy. This provides a useful platform to the policymakers to explain their perspectives and take critical inputs from the analysts. Several task forces at the Institute work in close cooperation with the government to provide policymakers with fresh perspectives on relevant issues. Reports of these task forces have also been published for wider circulation in the public domain. The public diplomacy division of the Ministry of External Affairs works closely with the Institute to regularly acquaint the strategic community about policy measures adopted by the government from time to time. The Institute hosts senior officials, serving diplomats, think-tankers, academics from other countries regularly as well. The Director Generals of the Institutes have also played an important role in sustaining the momentum of research at the Institute and nurturing linkages with various stakeholders.

Steering debates in new areas and influencing public policy

The very first items of research which the Institute undertook in the initial years pertained to maritime affairs and defence management. The initial publications of the Institute began to look at India’s options in the global strategic environment. Relations with Pakistan and China were natural items of research for the scholars of the Institute. India faced multiple security challenges in the 1970s and 1980s. These were studied in great details at the Institute. The liberation of Bangladesh occupied the attention of Institute’s scholars. Some of the papers prepared by the Institute on national security issues were critical of the government policy. Yet, the Institute maintained its autonomy.

In the wake of the Kargil War, the leadership of the Institute participated in the process of review of national security and defence and played its role in framing of the Kargil Committee report, which provided the blueprint for security sector reforms to enhance defence-preparedness. The leadership of the Institute also participated in the drafting of the Report of the Informal Group on carrying forward the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan (RGAP) on disarmament unveiled in 1988. The Institute has succeeded in steering debates on important issues like neighbourhood relations, nuclear engagement with the wider world and defence economics.

New Areas of research

Over the years, the research agenda of the Institute has expanded to include topical issues of importance for public policy. These include higher defence management reforms, India’s nuclear policies, relations with great powers, relations with neighbours etc. A large number of thematic issues have also been taken up for research including relationship with neighbouring countries, terrorism, cyber security, India’s strategic thought, maritime security, energy security, resource scarcity, defence economics and internal security issues.

An important area of research on which MP-IDSA has focused of late is defence economics. In 2006, the Centre of Defence Economics and Industry was created in IDSA to promote research in the area. Within a short span of merely seven years, the Centre, through objective research and outreach activities, has been at the forefront of the national debate on issues related to defence spending, arms procurement procedure, offset policy and defence industry. Several suggestions emanating from the Centre has been found acceptance by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The Centre was tasked by the MoD to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on “Acquisition Training”. The DPR provided a thorough roadmap for providing professional training to the acquisition workforce. The Centre through the IDSA Forum for MoD-Industry Dialogue successfully engaged with the key functionaries of the MoD and defence industry, in finding a solution to problems affecting the domestic defence industry.

Similarly, other Centres like the South Asia Centre, the West Asia Centre were tasked with the job of looking at foreign policy issues in India’s immediate as well as extended neighbourhoods. The researchers at MP-IDSA looked at the problems affecting India’s relationship with different countries and suggested measures to address them through an open critique of governmental policies. It has been the endeavour at the Institute to enrich research activities through arranging regular interface with policy-makers, encouraging researchers to undertake field trips and defend their findings and analyses in an open seminar.

The MP-IDSA has been an open institution encouraging multi-disciplinary research. Its research scholars include academics, diplomats, military personnel, media persons, economists and social scientists. There is a healthy turnover of research staff at the MP-IDSA. In addition, the Institute hosts scores of interns and visiting fellows from within and outside India every year. The Institute is open to fresh ideas. The Institute’s research output goes through strict peer review to maintain high quality of standards. Over the years, the MP-IDSA has nurtured the Indian strategic community. Many of the MP-IDSA scholars have gone on to head new think tanks. Many others have taken teaching assignments in India and abroad. The MP-IDSA is also well-regarded by students in Indian universities. The Institute’s website has emerged as a major resource of information and analysis on Indian positions on key issues.

MP-IDSA continues to play an important role in shaping India’s strategic and security policies. The current Director General of the Institute, Amb Sujan R Chinoy has been entrusted with responsibilities in non-traditional areas as well. He also served as the Think20 Chair during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 and was appointed as a member of the DRDO Review Committee in the same year.

MP-IDSA has undertaken significant analytical work, including a mid-term review of the modernization plans of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The Institute has also contributed to policy formulation in areas such as the development of border infrastructure and border regions, tourism, maritime and coastal security, and defence reforms. These contributions include key initiatives such as the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the establishment of the Department of Military Affairs, the introduction of the Agnipath recruitment scheme, and the development of integrated Theatre Commands.

Conclusion

India’s growing profile as an emerging power has helped the MP-IDSA raise its profile nationally and internationally. Policymakers are also gradually shedding their inhibitions and beginning to deal with think-tanks. There is a great deal of hunger in the media and general public to know more about Indian positions on strategic issues. Against this setting, the MP-IDSA has positioned itself well, and played a key role in interacting with policymakers and raising awareness about strategic issues in the public. The Institute has been able to do so successfully despite the fact that it is fully funded by the government and it has taken a conscious decision not to accept non-public funding. The objectivity of MP-IDSA publications as well as their quality has ensured that the Institute is seen as a respectable think tank in the country and abroad. The Institute will continue to play its due role in line with its mandate in the years to come.

¹ K Subrahmanyam, IDSA-In Retrospect, IDSA, New Delhi, February 2007, p.3.