College of Defence Management to receive President’s Colours

Hyderabad: In a momentous event scheduled to take place in the third week of December 24, the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, will be presented with the prestigious President’s Colours, the highest honour that recognises an Armed Forces institution’s outstanding contribution and service to the nation. This recognition comes as a testament to the college’s stellar legacy of shaping the strategic leadership and imparting higher defence management skills to senior military officers. The Colour presentation will mark a historic chapter in the evolution of CDM and cement its position as the foremost institution for management education in defence.

The story of the College of Defence Management is one of an enduring vision, transformation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Established in 1970, CDM was founded with a singular purpose to address the emerging need for skilling senior military leaders not only in combat operations, but also make them adept in the managerial and strategic planning aspects of modern warfare. Over the decades, the college has evolved, adapting to changing national and global security dynamics, to become an institution that serves as a bed rock for the development of military leadership and management expertise in the Indian Armed Forces.

The idea of establishing a dedicated institution to train officers in management and strategic leadership was conceived in the late 1960s, a period marked by complex national security challenges and rapid technological advancements in warfare. The Indo-Pak War of 1965 highlighted the need for military commanders to be equipped with higher defence management competencies; to develop strategic perspective, superior resource management and operational art for optimal synergy and effectiveness. The emerging battlefield milieu, high velocity and lethality of war-waging with large yet agile mission-oriented forces, high-cost weapon platforms and equipment and resource limitations necessitated setting up of a Tri service Institution with core proficiency in developing strategic thought through a scientific approach in higher defence management for planning and prosecution of war.

This unique tri-service institution came into being as the Institute of Defence Management (IDM) on 07 July 1970 in Secunderabad, with the vision of providing senior officers of the Indian Armed Forces with the skills needed to manage large organizations, complex logistics, and strategic operations effectively. The Vice President of India GS Pathak inaugurated this inter-services institute on 08 December 1970. Initially, CDM's focus was largely on providing training in administrative functions, resource management, and the efficient handling of military assets.

Brigadier V Dhruva, AVSM, the first Commandant of CDM, played a pivotal role in shaping the early curriculum, ensuring that it provided not only operational training but also a strong foundation in management and decision-making. The integration of management principles from the corporate world with military doctrine allowed CDM to cultivate well-rounded leaders who could navigate the complexities of both war and peace. The College started the Long Defence Management Course (LDMC) in March 1971 with 44 students. In September 1972, it hosted its first Defence Management Seminar in New Delhi. In June 1973, it began conducting capsules at other institutions. In November 1973, Major Baharuddin BK Che Din from the Malaysian Army became the first foreign participant in the LDMC.

In its early years, CDM began offering programs focused on the administrative and logistical aspects of warfare. As the 1970s and 1980s unfolded, however, the scope of CDM's training began to expand. The college began to integrate leadership development, strategic planning, decision sciences and organizational theory into its curriculum, acknowledging that modern military leadership required wider competencies.

By the 1990s, the Indian Armed Forces were undergoing a transformation. As India increasingly engaged in global affairs, its military leaders needed to be equipped not only with military expertise but also with an understanding of international relations, macro-economic policies, and the broader strategic landscape. CDM, recognizing these evolving needs, broadened its curriculum to address global challenges and integrate modern management theories.