Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

What Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses does

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), formerly the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), is an autonomous, non-partisan policy research institute established in 1965 and headquartered in New Delhi under India's Ministry of Defence. The institute functions as the Indian government's premier defence and strategic studies think tank, with the Raksha Mantri serving as its President and the Director General (currently Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy) leading day-to-day operations. It operates 12 thematic centres covering Africa, Latin America and the UN, Counter Terrorism, Defence Economics and Industry, East Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Military Affairs, Non-Traditional Security, Nuclear and Arms Control, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, North America and Strategic Technologies, Internal Security, and West Asia, plus the Manohar Parrikar IDSA Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence.

MP-IDSA's core products are intellectual outputs rather than technology platforms. These include peer-reviewed journals (Strategic Analysis, published with Taylor & Francis; Journal of Defence Studies; CBW Magazine; Africa Trends), 20+ regional and thematic news digests, books, monographs, and issue briefs, alongside a comprehensive library and GIS unit. It disseminates analysis through flagship annual conferences such as the Asian Security Conference, Delhi Defence Dialogue, South Asia Conference, and West Asia Conference, supported by fellows' seminars, round tables, workshops, bilateral meetings, a growing podcast series, and active social media channels. The institute also runs visiting fellowship and internship programmes that feed its talent pipeline.

Revenue is generated primarily through government grants from the Ministry of Defence, supplemented by membership programmes (Life, Associate, Corporate), journal and publication subscriptions, conference participation fees, and facility hire for the conference centre. The institute does not develop proprietary technology products; its differentiation rests on institutional mandate, brand authority built over six decades, and embedded access to senior policymakers, military leadership, and diplomats. Its customer base is overwhelmingly governmental (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Armed Forces), with secondary academic, media, and corporate segments accessed through memberships and media engagement.

Name

Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

Legal name

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

Website

https://idsa.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) is an autonomous Indian government think tank under the Ministry of Defence that produces peer-reviewed journals, books, news digests, and policy analysis across 12 thematic centres, serving policymakers, military leadership, and academia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Research and Strategic Analysis

NAICS

National Security (928110), International Affairs (92812), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Intelligence (Strategic, Tactical & Technical) (BPAIAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Defense Universities & Joint Professional Military Education (PME) (EDAHAOAB), Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings (BPAKADAK)

Keywords

• Defense policy research
• Strategic studies
• Geopolitical analysis
• Security research
• Foreign policy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Institutional Subscriptions: As an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, MP-IDSA is primarily funded through government grants and institutional subscriptions. It generates revenue through membership programmes (Life Membership, Associate Membership, Corporate Membership), subscriptions to publications and journals, and fees for conference participation and facility usage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MP-IDSA is an autonomous, government-funded defence and strategic studies research institute that produces peer-reviewed journals, books, monographs, news digests, and research briefs on national security and international relations. It convenes flagship conferences (Asian Security Conference, Delhi Defence Dialogue, South Asia Conference, West Asia Conference), runs fellowship and internship programmes, and operates a research library and GIS unit to support India's defence and foreign policy establishment.

Product overview

The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) is a defense research institute that operates as a multi-product knowledge organization. Its portfolio includes peer-reviewed academic journals (Strategic Analysis, Journal of Defence Studies, CBW Magazine, Africa Trends), news digests covering global regions (Africa, China, Cyber, Defence, Eurasia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, West Asia, etc.), published books and monographs, research papers and issue briefs, along with event/conference services including annual conferences (Asian Security Conference, Delhi Defence Dialogue) and fellowships. The institute also offers library services, internship programmes, podcasts, and operates specialized research centers such as the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Analysis Journal Peer-reviewed academic journal covering strategic studies, international relations, and defence analysis, published in collaboration with Taylor & Francis and targeted at scholars, policy researchers, and defence professionals.
• Journal of Defence Studies Academic journal focused on defence studies and military affairs analysis, serving researchers, military officers, and policy analysts.
• CBW Magazine Journal on Chemical and Biological Weapons covering non-proliferation, arms control, and related security issues, targeted at security researchers and policy professionals.
• Africa Trends Journal focusing on African strategic and security affairs for researchers and policy audiences interested in India's engagement with Africa.
• News Digests (Multiple Regional and Thematic) Regularly published digests covering Africa, China Military, Cyber, Defence, East Asia, Eurasia, Iran, Jammu & Kashmir, Japan, Korea, Non-Traditional Security, Nuclear/Missile/Space, Pakistan, PoK, Strategic Digest, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Terror Tracker, US & Canada, and related themes for policy and media subscribers.
• Books and Monographs Published books and monographs on defence studies, strategic affairs, regional security, and international relations authored by institute fellows for academic and policy audiences.
• Papers and Issue Briefs Research papers, issue briefs, and comments on current defence and strategic topics for policymakers, scholars, and journalists.
• Events and Conferences Annual conferences including Asian Security Conference, Delhi Defence Dialogue, South Asia Conference, and West Asia Conference, plus bilateral discussions, book forums, lectures, round tables, and workshops for government, military, diplomatic, and academic participants.
• Library Services Comprehensive library services including online catalogue, current journal contents, online databases, online journals, new arrivals tracking, discovery services, and newspaper access for researchers, fellows, and members.
• Fellowship and Internship Programmes Visiting fellowships, internship programme, and fellowship rules for researchers and scholars in defence studies, providing structured research opportunities at the institute.
• Manohar Parrikar IDSA Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence Specialized research centre focusing on cybersecurity research, analysis, and policy recommendations for government, industry, and academic stakeholders.
• Geographic Information System (GIS) Unit GIS unit providing geospatial analysis and mapping services for defence studies research, supporting internal fellows and external researchers.
• Membership Programmes Subscription-based membership tiers including Life Membership, Associate Membership, and Corporate Membership, granting individuals and organisations access to institute facilities, publications, and events.
• Conference Facility Hire Conference facility available for hire by external organisations for meetings, seminars, and events at the MP-IDSA campus in New Delhi.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Geneva Graduate Institute (Geneva Policy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMP-IDSA interacts with the Geneva Graduate Institute and its Editor-in-Chief Geneva Policy through high-level scholarly exchanges and collaborative engagement on international affairs and policy research.
• Australia's Defence International Policy DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA delegation from Australia's Defence International Policy Division interacted with MP-IDSA scholars, indicating ongoing bilateral defence policy dialogue and research collaboration between the two countries.
• U.S. Department of StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMr Daniel Benaim of the U.S. Department of State called on Amb Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General of MP-IDSA, reflecting ongoing engagement between the institute and the U.S. foreign policy establishment.
• Business Standard (Media Partnership)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMP-IDSA scholars participate in Business Standard's podcast series (e.g., 'Defence Reforms Initiatives Should Continue Beyond 2025'), and the institute co-convenes events such as the 'Decoding Operation Sindoor' conference with Business Standard, indicating media and GTM partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/idsaindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstituteforDefenceStudiesAnalyses
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/695752
• Instagraminstagram.com/mpidsa_india
• Xx.com/IDSAIndia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses