<span style="color: #222222;">Integrated Defence Staff celebrated its 20th Raising Day today.  On this occasion, the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat extended his warm felicitations to all members of the Tri Services Fraternity and their Families.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, popularly known as HQ IDS, was raised on 1st October 2001. Tasked to promote Jointness among the Armed Forces and ensure better coordination with Ministry of Defence and other Departments and Ministries, HQ IDS has over the last 19 years, synergised the efforts of the Armed Forces in promoting national endeavours in key fields such as security, modernisation, jointness and military diplomacy, to name a few.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> The creation of the Department of Military Affairs and institution of the Chief of Defence Staff in the past year are major milestones that have provided the much needed impetus to the transformation of the Armed Forces and their integration in the Higher Defence Organisation of the Nation.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> HQ IDS remains at the forefront of multiple initiatives aimed at furthering the integration and jointness among the Services and thus living upto its motto "Victory Through Jointness".</span><br />''