Integrated Defence Staff: Government had established Integrated Defence Staff, headed by Chief of Integrated Staff as Chairman (who enjoys status equivalent to that of Vice Chief of Service.) to ensure high degree of synergy between Armed forces. It acts as point organisation for integration of policy, doctrine, war fighting and procurement by employing best management practices. It was created on 1 October 2001 based on recommendations of Group of Ministers which was set up in 2000 (post-Kargil) to review India’s defence management. It has representation from all three services, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Department of Defence (DoD) and Def (Finance). Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar took over as 12th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, COSC.

Surendra Sai: He was freedom fighter and tribal leader, born in 1809 in small town Khinda in Sambalpur (now in Odisha). He was direct descendant from Madhukar Sai and was legally entitled to be crowned as king of Sambalpur after demise of king Maharaja Sai in 1827. But he was not acceptable to British power and ignored his claim for succession. Surendra Sai was in news as Union Cabinet has approved renaming of Jharsuguda Airport in Odisha as Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda.