The history of DIPR dates back to 1943, when it was established in Dehradun as a small experimental board for the selection of Indian Officers in Armed Forces through psychological techniques.
After independence, with the reorganisation of the Armed Forces, there was a strong need for a dedicated research cell for the selection and follow-up of the officer cadre.
Thus, in 1949, the experimental board was re-christened as the Psychological Research Wing (PRW), with the objective of evolving a scientific system for the selection of officers.
[1] PRW made a significant contribution in various areas related to armed forces and earned appreciation from the services headquarters and the Defence Ministry.
Naval Psychological Research Unit (NPRU) at Kochi which had been established in December 1956 under Defence Science Laboratory (DSL) was made a part of APL in 1962.