New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) today celebrated its Raising Day, marking the commencement of 25 year of service since its establishment on 1 October, 2001.
Conceived as a permanent institution for promoting jointness and integration in the Armed Forces, HQ IDS 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, a Defence Ministry statement said.
Over the years, HQ IDS has continued the trajectory and has supported the creation of new joint military structures and contributed 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.
It provided a platform for the highest military and civilian leadership and has also been instrumental in conducting the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the apex level.
It coordinated joint staff talks with friendly nations and contributed to multinational defence cooperation frameworks at the bilateral and multilateral level and contributed to multinational defence cooperation frameworks.

Keeping Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) a priority, HQ IDS supported national disaster response through coordinated exercises and deployments. 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.
Meanwhile Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended his best wishes to HQ IDS.
"For 25 years, HQ_IDS_India has been a symbol of India’s quest for jointness in defence planning and operational synergy, serving as a bridge between the Armed Forces and higher defence management," Rajnath Singh said on X.
He said, “Its contribution in streamlining tri-service structures, promoting joint doctrines and strengthening cooperation with partner nations has enhanced our preparedness to address emerging security challenges. The HQ IDS has also been a driving force in nurturing innovation, indigenisation and futuristic capability development, fully aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
“On this landmark occasion, I salute the professionalism and devotion of Team IDS and am confident that it will continue to steer India’s defence towards greater integration, modernisation and operational excellence,” he further added.
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