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Gist of IDSA

Here’s a concise yet comprehensive overview (“gist”) of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA):

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🏛️ What is IDSA?

• Full Name: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (renamed Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in 2025)
• Founded: November 11, 1965 in New Delhi
• Nature: Non-partisan, autonomous think tank under the Ministry of Defence ● funded by the MoD but maintains independent operations

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🎯 Mission & Focus

• To generate objective research on defence, security, and strategic issues, and to inform policymakers with evidence-based analysis
• Covers a wide scope: Indian and global security, WMD, terrorism, non-traditional threats, regional and global geopolitics
• Mission: Promote national & global security via knowledge dissemination

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👥 Structure & Leadership

• Director General: Appointed by India’s Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Currently Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy (since January 2025)
• Staff Strength: ~70 research scholars across academic, defence, civil services, foreign affairs, and media fields
• Governance: Overseen by an executive council headed by Defence Minister or designate

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📊 Main Activities

• Research: Conducts in-depth studies on global regions (South Asia, East Asia, West Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe), military affairs, terrorism, cyber, etc.
• Publications:
  • Strategic Analysis (bi-monthly)
  • Journal of Defence Studies (quarterly)
  • CBW Magazine, Africa Trends, along with monographs, policy/issue briefs, occasional papers, newsletters
• Training & Outreach: Conducts courses for government officers (civil, military, police), holds seminars, workshops, roundtables, and global conferences like the Asia Security Conference

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🌍 Influence & Recognition

• Seen as India’s top defence-security think tank, consistently ranked highest nationally and in top global think tanks (e.g., ranked 41st by University of Pennsylvania in 2025)
• Notable directors include Air Commodore Jasjit Singh (1987–2001), under whom IDSA's stature grew significantly

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⚡ Why It Matters for UPSC/Current Affairs

• Authoritative analysis on India’s security posture, defence diplomacy, and international strategic dynamics.
• Regular updates on topics like China‑India border dynamics, defence R&D, multilateral forums (UN security council reform, AUKUS), and evolving global threats—crucial for Prelims & Mains.
• Ideal source for informed answers and background context in both GS Paper III and Essay writing.

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🧭 How to Use IDSA Resources

• Regularly visit idsa.in for policy briefs, issue briefs, Xplore (digest of India‑Asia and India‑Africa engagements), recent commentary, and analysis.
• Subscribe to flagship journals for deeper insights (Strategic Analysis, Journal of Defence Studies).
• Use annual Asia Security Conference proceedings to stay ahead on strategic debates.

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Let me know if you'd like direct links to any recent IDSA reports, summaries of key publications, or a walkthrough of how to leverage these in your UPSC preparation!

Gist of IDSA