Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme
Also called: IGMDP · Topic: India's External Relations, 1947-1999: Non-alignment, Wars and Nuclear Policy · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was a DRDO programme to design and build India's own missiles at home, instead of buying them from other countries. DRDO (the Defence Research and Development Organisation) is the Ministry of Defence's research body. Under IGMDP it built a family of missiles of different types and ranges, including the Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles (missiles that fly a fixed, high arc to their target) and the Agni series. IGMDP matters because it laid the base for defence indigenisation, which means making defence equipment within India. Later Indian missiles grew out of it.
Example
Pralay is a quasi-ballistic missile. It flies a lower path and can change direction in flight. It follows on from the Prithvi missiles built under IGMDP. In November 2026 it passed its user evaluation trials, and induction was described as imminent.
Don't confuse with
- Strategic Forces Command: IGMDP built missiles. The Strategic Forces Command is a military body set up after Kargil, and it controls India's nuclear weapons.
- Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP): IGMDP was a DRDO development programme. A DcPP is an industry partner, such as Bharat Dynamics Ltd for Pralay, that joins during development and then mass-produces the weapon.