MP-IDSA is staffed by a mix of civilian experts and government officials drawn from the civilian bureaucracy, the military, and paramilitary forces. Civilian experts are recruited on multi-year contracts to work on various approved projects. Recruitment of civilian experts occurs at various levels – Associate Fellow, Research Fellow, Senior Fellow. In addition, MP-IDSA also offers opportunities at the levels of Distinguished Fellows, Visiting Fellows, Advisers, and Research Assistants.

Government officials either come on study leave or are deputed to MP-IDSA. They need to submit their applications for grant of fellowship to their respective service headquarters, which then approves and forwards these to MP-IDSA. Candidates go through an interview process at MP-IDSA, and their postings have to be formally approved by the President of MP-IDSA.

Based on its requirements, MP-IDSA advertises vacancies at various levels.

• Format for Preparing of Research Proposal for a Project