Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) marked its 25th Raising Day on Wednesday. It was established on October 1, 2001 HQ ID as a permanent institution to foster unity and integration among the Indian Armed Forces. It has become the centre of tri-service collaboration in new fields like cyber and space, and it has played a significant role in forming India's integrated military readiness.
Over the years, HQ IDS has continued this trajectory, supporting the creation of new joint military structures and contributing to initiatives aimed at establishing an integrated three-tier service mechanism. HQ IDS has facilitated the tri-services roadmap in capability development and is actively engaged with national research organisations and industry partners to accelerate indigenous solutions, in line with the vision of self-reliance in the defence sector.
It served as a platform for the highest levels of military and civilian leadership and was crucial to the apex-level conduct of the Combined Commanders' Conference (CCC). It facilitated bilateral and multilateral frameworks for multinational defence cooperation and coordinated Joint Staff Talks with Allied countries.
According to the MoD,HQ IDS supported national disaster response through coordinated exercises and deployments, prioritising humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). The Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE ) program improved training and education in 2025. HQ IDS also advanced emerging areas such as cyber, artificial intelligence (AI), and space, fostering inter-service integration, facilitating dialogue with scientific institutions, and supporting the adoption of new technologies for military applications.
HQ IDS laid down a roadmap to foster integration, focusing on enhancing joint operational doctrines , institutionalising training frameworks that combine cutting-edge technology with strategic foresight, and further expanding India's role in multilateral security cooperation.
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