Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA) | 12 Jun 2019

The Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by the Prime Minister has cleared the setting up of the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA) which has been entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies.

  • The agency would be provided with a team of scientists and would be working in close coordination with the tri-services integrated Defence staff officers.
  • It would provide the research and development support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA) which comprises members of the three services (Army, Naval and Air Force).
    • The DSA has been created to help the country fight wars in outer space.
    • The DSA has been set up in Bengaluru under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer and will gradually take over the space-related capabilities of the three forces.

Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)

  • The Integrated Defence Staff was set up in October 2001 under the Ministry of Defence in the aftermath of ‘Operation Vijay’ (Kargil Operations).
  • The main objective was to promote synergy among the three Services and to integrate these with the Ministry of Defence.
  • The organisation has representation from all three services, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDA) and Department of Defence and Department of Finance.
  • The overarching aim of IDS is to achieve ‘Victory through Jointness’.