‘President’s Colours is a matter of pride for College of Defence Management’

College of Defence Management Secunderabad to receive President's Colours, highlighting its legacy of strategic leadership and military management excellence.

The College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, is set to receive the President’s Colours from President Droupadi Murmu on December 20, marking a milestone in its five-decade journey.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, CDM Commandant Major General Harsh Chhibber hailed the recognition as a testament to the institution’s contributions to the nation.

“It is a matter of great honour and pride for our institution to be awarded the President’s Colours, the highest honour for an armed forces establishment. This recognition underscores CDM’s legacy of shaping strategic leadership and imparting higher defence management skills to senior military officers,” said the Commandant.

The President’s Colours comes as CDM celebrates over five decades of serving as a bedrock for military leadership and management expertise. Established in 1970, the institution has evolved from its initial focus on administrative training to a curriculum that encompasses strategic planning, resource management, and leadership.

The CDM was inaugurated as the Institute of Defence Management on July 7, 1970, with the aim of equipping senior armed forces officers with skills to manage complex logistics, strategic operations, and large organisations effectively. The foundation stone for its present complex in Secunderabad was laid in 1999, and the campus became operational in 2001, the Commandant added.

Over the decades, the college has adapted to shifting global and national security dynamics. The CDM’s flagship programmes, including the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC), and Senior Defence Management Course (SDMC), attract military personnel from India and across the world. To date, approximately 650 officers from 55 countries have trained at the CDM.

The college has also forged partnerships with educational institutions, business schools, and international defence organisations. In 1994, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Osmania University, recognising its core programme as equivalent to a Master’s in Management Studies.