The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) is a non-partisan, autonomous body dedicated to objective research and policy relevant studies on all aspects of defence and security. Its mission is to promote national and international security through the generation and dissemination of knowledge on defence and security-related issues. IDSA has been consistently ranked over the last few years as one of the top think tanks in Asia.

Formation of IDSA
IDSA was established as a registered society in New Delhi on November 11, 1965. Its mission was to provide objective assessments of issues relating to national and international security. The initiative for setting up the Institute came from then Defence Minister Shri Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan, who was one of the Institute`s founding members. Since the years of its formation, IDSA has played a crucial role in shaping India`s foreign and security policies, including with respect to nuclear weapons, military expenditure, and conventional and non-conventional threats to India.

Functions of IDSA
Since its inception, IDSA has served as a forum to debate important aspects of national and international security. The Institute conducts several national and international conferences every year, and regularly holds round tables and workshops on important developments. The Weekly Fellows` Seminars also serve as a forum in which IDSA experts interact with a cross-section of analysts, scholars, journalists, and policy makers. IDSA has a well-qualified multi-disciplinary research faculty drawn from academia, defence forces and the civil services, and which represent a diversity of views. Research at the Institute is driven by a comprehensive agenda and by the need to provide impartial analyses and policy recommendations. IDSA`s journals, monographs, briefs, and books are the principal mediums through which these analyses and policy recommendations are disseminated. IDSA provides annual training programmes to civilian and military officers of the Government of India. Lectures by experts from IDSA and from outside form the core of these programmes.

Administration of IDSA
IDSA is governed by an Executive Council, whose members are distinguished personalities from various walks of life. The Council is headed by a President. It is supported by committees covering different aspects of the Institute`s work. Executive Council Committees include: Human Resources and Finance Committee, Programme Committee, Membership Committee and Campus Development Committee. Members of the Council are elected for two-year terms at the Annual General Body meeting. IDSA is funded by the Indian Ministry of Defence. It functions autonomously.