The first Editor of Indian Defence Review was Lt Gen Mathew Thomas from the Paratroopers, Indian Army. This was the first attempt after Indian independence in 1986 to create a magazine on national security in the private sector. The second editor of IDR, Major General Afsir Karim took over in 1995, was also from the Paratroopers, Indian Army. Finally in 1997, the publisher Capt Bharat Verma, also from the Indian Army took over as the third editor of IDR.