Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
Name	Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
Established	1983
Type	Public policy
Location	New Delhi, India

Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses is an Indian strategic studies think tank based in New Delhi affiliated with the Ministry of Defence and engaged in research on India–Pakistan relations, India–China relations, Indo-Pacific, South Asia, and global security issues. It hosts scholars who publish on subjects ranging from nuclear strategy and maritime security to defence procurement and cybersecurity, and it convenes dialogues involving representatives from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, foreign ministries, and international think tanks.

History

The institute originated in 1983 through an initiative led by figures associated with the Rajiv Gandhi era and with input from officials connected to the Ministry of Defence (India), the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and veteran strategists who had served in the Indian Armed Forces. Early patronage and intellectual exchange drew on networks that included contacts with the United States Department of Defense, Royal United Services Institute, and scholars from Harvard University, London School of Economics, and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Over subsequent decades its profile rose during crises such as the Kargil War and shifts in the Asia-Pacific balance that involved actors like People's Liberation Army and United States Navy, prompting expanded research into nuclear doctrine, counterinsurgency, and strategic stability.

Mission and Objectives

The institute's stated mission emphasizes independent, policy-relevant research to inform defence planning and strategic decision-making in India, interacting with ministries and services including the Ministry of External Affairs (India), the National Security Council (India), and arms managers involved with the Defense Research and Development Organisation. Objectives include producing research outputs on topics such as nuclear deterrence, ballistic missile defense, maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca, and transnational challenges exemplified by terrorism and cyber warfare. The institute seeks to facilitate dialogues among counterparts from institutions like the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Chatham House, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and academia represented by Oxford University and Stanford University.

Organisation and Leadership

Governance structures have combined a board comprising retired officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force with civil servants from the Ministry of Defence (India) and academic experts affiliated with Delhi University and JNU. Directors and senior fellows have included former diplomats and strategists who previously served in institutions such as the National Security Council Secretariat (India), the Foreign Service Institute, and international bodies like the United Nations. Administrative units mirror functional research divisions focusing on strategic studies, regional security, defence technology, and a publications office that interacts with editors from outlets such as Economic Times, The Hindu, and scholarly journals hosted by SAGE Publications.

Research Programs and Publications

Research programs cover thematic streams including nuclear strategy, arms control, maritime strategy, airpower, land warfare, counterterrorism, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence applied to defence and space security. The institute publishes policy briefs, monographs, and a peer-reviewed journal that circulates analyses comparing doctrines like No First Use and concepts linked to the Cold War and post‑Cold War strategic thought influenced by thinkers in RAND Corporation, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and university departments at Columbia University and King's College London. Notable outputs engage with case studies involving the Kashmir conflict, Doklam standoff, Indian Ocean Region, and bilateral issues such as Indo-US relations and India–Russia relations.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The institute maintains partnerships with international think tanks and multilateral entities including exchanges with SIPRI, Observer Research Foundation, Brookings Institution, and regional centers like the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Malaysia). Collaborative programs have included joint workshops with delegations from ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and defence attachés from embassies to facilitate Track II dialogues, tabletop exercises, and conferences on topics ranging from nuclear non-proliferation and arms trade to maritime domain awareness involving partners such as Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force analysts and researchers from Australian National University.

Campus and Facilities

The institute's campus in New Delhi houses a specialized library with collections on strategy, defence white papers, and archival materials referencing documents from institutions like the Indian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence (India), and published resources from United Nations repositories. Facilities include seminar halls for public lectures featuring speakers from universities such as Cambridge University and policy centers such as RAND Corporation, meeting rooms for bilateral dialogues with representatives from the United States Institute of Peace, and digital access to databases used by scholars at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and other global research centers. The institute also supports visiting fellows from institutions including Princeton University, Tsinghua University, and National Defence University (United States).

Category:Think tanks based in India