Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
मनोहर पर्रिकर रक्षा अध्ययन एवं विश्लेषण संस्थान

Mission Sudarshan Chakra: India’s Integrated Aerospace Command and Control System
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press

Drawing inspiration from the Sudarshan Chakra of the Mahabharata, this book examines India’s quest for an invincible aero-space defence “kavach” in an era of multi-domain warfare. As threats from conventional and hypersonic missiles, drones and stand-off weapons intensify, the book analyses India’s futuristic project-Mission Sudarshan Chakra-an ambitious, indigenous initiative to build a multi-layered Integrated Air and Missile Defence shield. The volume blends scholarly insight with practical experience to deepen public understanding of India’s evolving national security architecture.

  • ISBN: 978-81-997728-1-6,
  • Price: ₹ 995/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

Emerging Frontiers: Technology Absorption in the Indian Army
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press

In the 21st century, power on the battlefield is no longer defined by size or legacy, but by speed of adaptation. The world’s most advanced militaries are no longer just acquiring weapons; they are absorbing innovation at the pace of disruption. Emerging Frontiers confronts one of the most urgent challenges facing armed forces today: how to integrate technologies never built for war but rapidly redefining it. AI, drones, quantum computing and cyber systems now emerge from private labs and startups, not defence PSUs or primes. The race is no longer just for firepower - it is for technological fluency.

The book delivers:

  • A clear foundation in emerging and disruptive technologies.
  • Comparative insights from innovation ecosystems in the US, Israel, Ukraine and India.
  • Profound lessons from contemporary conflicts - Russia- Ukraine, Armenia-Azerbaijan and Israel-Hamas.
  • A blueprint for reforming India’s defence innovation culture.

But more than that, it delivers a powerful argument: India’s armed forces must not just adopt technology - they must lead it. Absorption is not a matter of buying more. It is about building the capacity to experiment, adapt, co-create and lead in an environment where yesterday’s solutions are obsolete tomorrow. The book is essential for those who believe that the future of national security will belong to nations that learn faster, adapt smarter and move first. It calls for organisational ambidexterity, cultural agility and a shift in mindset, where military personnel are not only end-users but also innovators, collaborators and strategic technologists.

  • ISBN: 978-81-984458-8-9,
  • Price: ₹ 995/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

China–Afghanistan Relations: Hope, Hype and More
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press
China has been a part of the Afghan maze, but landlocked Afghanistan seemed to have factored either marginally or episodically in its geopolitical quests in the past decades. While the role of certain regional actors in Afghanistan has been far widely debated and analysed, China’s role, particularly the nature and scope of its bilateral interactions and engagements with various Afghan regimes in Kabul, from Zahir Shah to the Taliban, has remained comparatively understudied. This book is a modest effort in that direction.
  • ISBN: 978-81-991162-4-5,
  • Price: ₹ 1295/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

Afghanistan Under Taliban
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press
The edited volume comprises 16 chapters contributed by Afghan, Central Asian, Iranian, Russian, Western, and Indian scholars and analysts. The chapters not only dwell on country perspectives but also key issues of concern to the people of Afghanistan and the wider region. It includes terrorism, transnational crime, drug production and distribution, the governance system and the state of education in Afghanistan. The contributions in the volume paint an unflattering view of the ground reality in Afghanistan, and a connecting thread of pessimism runs through various analyses.
  • ISBN: 978-81-988370-8-0,
  • Price: ₹ 1295/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

Trial by Water: Indus Basin and India-Pakistan Relations
  • Publisher: Penguin Random House India
In 1947, the Indian subcontinent was partitioned, and Pakistan was born. A shared heritage, a composite culture and centuries-old bonds between people, all seemed to vanish overnight. Nowhere was this rupture more profound than in the Indus Basin—once a unified lifeline of the region, now fragmented by sovereign borders, its rivers flowing through two nations immediately at odds with each other. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, proving that even bitter adversaries could cooperate over shared resources. Yet, it never brought lasting peace. The treaty was suspended by India in April 2025 as a punitive measure in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, and its future remains shrouded in uncertainty. Can it still endure and adapt? Perhaps the time has come for a new arrangement—one that is not just inevitable but essential. This book traces the turbulent history of the Indus Basin and examines how the Indus Waters Treaty has been shaped by the region’s ever-evolving political dynamics. It explores the role of key leaders on both sides, as well as external pressures, in shaping and reshaping one of the world’s most critical transboundary water agreements. The Indus Basin has been a witness to conflict, compromise and survival. And if you seek to understand the true nature of India–Pakistan relations, start with the rivers that bind them. Trial by Water leads us in that direction.
  • ISBN: 9780143471028,
  • Price: ₹ 599/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

Mahabharata’s Strategic Insights: Navigating the Dharmic Compass
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press
The appeal and allure of the Mahabharata have remained undiluted for centuries. It is the first text that lays the foundation of Indian strategic thought. This book's analysis is based on the English translation of The Critical Edition of the Mahabharata, by the late Bibek Debroy. The epic falls in the unique category of itihasa, which translates to “it happened like this”. Drawing on historical facts, its primary aim remains deriving lessons and contextualising these with the present. It is a living text with a timeless appeal. The Mahabharata is a foundational text for Indian strategic thought. It successfully distils ancient strategic wisdom through a combination of descriptive, didactic and prescriptive approaches. In doing so, dharma remains its abiding spiritual, philosophical and strategic anchor, with Krishna as its primary architect. This guidance frames the objective of yoga kshema as the raja dharma of a king, or a state, in contemporary times. The book discusses a conceptual framework for wars. This includes its conditional acceptability, planning process and conduct. The book also compares key aspects of the Mahabharata with the Arthashastra and Nitisara, to identify common elements of strategic thought over a period spanning almost 2,000 years.
  • ISBN: 978-81-988370-7-3,
  • Price: ₹ 995/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

India And The Emerging World Order
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press
International Relations stand at a crucial juncture today. The multilateral order represented by the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system has not met the evolving requirements of changes in the balance of power. The global community today is confronted with a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in stasis, with major powers ranged against one another, on trade and technology and in the context of ongoing military conflicts. This edited volume attempts to encapsulate India`s pragmatic foreign policy outlook in an international order that is characterised by polycrisis, polarisation and eroding global consensus on pressing issues. The book is the outcome of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)`s pilot project, the Director General`s Young Scholars` Book Initiative. The core aim of this project is to inculcate in the young scholars at the level of Research Analysts (RAs), the art of conceptualising, drafting, editing and publishing an edited volume in accordance with the high standards of the Institute. Above all, it offers an opportunity to view geopolitics through the eyes of the young scholars who will take academic research forward.
  • ISBN: 9788198748416 ,
  • Price: ₹ 1495/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

ADAPTIVE DEFENCE: Navigating The Changing Landscape of Modern Warfare
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press
This book explores the evolving character of modern warfare and its profound implications on military doctrines, strategy, and operations. The multi-domain (land, air, sea, cyber, and space) nature of modern wars and advancements in military and dual use technologies are forcing the armed forces to adapt to the resultant complexities. The increasing complexity of military operations demands greater inter-agency coordination, adaptability, and resilience. In parallel, the book examines the significant organisational challenges faced by the armed forces due to emerging risks in defence resource management. The later sections of the book focus on the strategic dimensions of defence in India, particularly how the country can enhance its defence capabilities and achieve its goal of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence.
  • ISBN: 9788198748461 ,
  • Price: ₹ 1495/-
  • E-copy available
Read More

50 YEARS OF THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: Tracking the Journey
  • Publisher: Pentagon Press
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) entered into force in 1975. This treaty prohibits the development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. This volume offers a comprehensive examination of the BWC's historical development, notable achievements, and the challenges it may encounter in the future. It examines the treaty's role in international security and assesses its effectiveness in preventing the misuse of biology for hostile purpose-a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and security professionals.
  • ISBN: 978-81-988370-1-1 ,
  • Price: ₹ 1295/-
  • E-copy available
Read More
  • Visitor No:15926208
  • © Manohar Parrikar Institute For Defence Studies and Analyses
  • XHTML validation2.0 Level Double-A Conformance
    CSS Validator
    Explanation of WCAG 2.0 Level Double-A Conformance