The Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) marked its 23rd Raising Day with solemnity and fervor today, as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen JP Mathew laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi to pay homage to the fallen heroes. On this significant occasion, the CISC extended felicitations to all ranks of the ‘Purple Fraternity’ and urged them to persist in their pursuit of achieving a truly integrated Armed Forces.
The ‘Purple Fraternity’ in the context of the Indian Defence refers to the collective body of officers and personnel who serve in integrated or joint military organizations. The term ‘purple’ is used to symbolize the combination of the colors traditionally associated with different branches of the military: green for the army, blue for the navy, and sky blue for the air force. When these colors are combined, they create a shade of purple.
The HQ IDS, established on October 1, 2001, as a Tri-Service entity, continues to play a pivotal role in India’s national security architecture. Under the motto ‘Victory Through Jointness,’ it has been at the forefront of numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing integration and joint operations among the Services.
Over the past two decades, HQ IDS has spearheaded various crucial national endeavors, including force structuring and capability development, technology management, consolidating defence intelligence, fostering military diplomacy, and enhancing joint training for all three services. Additionally, it has actively engaged in collaborations with friendly foreign countries, streamlined interoperable operational logistics, advanced major procurements for the Armed Forces, and conducted vital Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Notably, the HQ IDS has achieved key milestones such as the operationalization of the Defence Space Agency, Defence Cyber Agency, and Armed Forces Special Operations Division as Joint Organizations. These developments have significantly bolstered India’s defence capabilities on both domestic and international fronts.
Furthermore, the establishment of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) have brought about transformative reforms, injecting renewed synergy, modernization, and transformation into the Defence Services. These reforms have strengthened the integration of the Armed Forces within the Higher Defence Organisation of the Nation, ensuring a more coordinated and efficient defence apparatus.