Department of Military Affairs explained

Department of Military Affairs
Type:Department
Seal:Ministry of Defence.png
Seal Size:100px
Headquarters:Secretariat
Minister1 Name:Rajnath Singh
Minister1 Pfo:Minister of Defence
Deputyminister1 Name:Ajay Bhatt (politician)
Deputyminister1 Pfo:Minister of State for Defence
Chief1 Name:General Anil Chauhan
Chief1 Position:Chief of Defence Staff and ex-officio Secretary
Parent Department:Ministry of Defence

Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is the department in charge of military matters within the Indian Ministry of Defence. Headed by the Chief of Defence Staff,[1] [2] as its ex-officio secretary,[3] the DMA provides integration between the armed forces of the Union and the Ministry of Defence.[4] [5]

Function

Consisting of military and civilian officers, the DMA will promote jointness in various areas such as procurement, training and staffing.[6] The DMA will deal the tri-service Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) Headquarters, with the headquarters of three armed force Army, Air and Naval, the Territorial Army and certain procurement requirements. DMA will also deal with promoting jointness through joint planning, facilitate restructuring for optimal utilisation of resources and promote the use of indigenous equipment by the Services. The DMA, being under the Chief of Defence Staff will also deal with the role and responsibilities assigned to the chief.

As per the Second Schedule to Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, the following subjects were allocated to DMA:-[7]

Organisation

The department comes under the Ministry of Defence and is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, who acts as its ex-officio secretary. In addition to the Chief of Defence Staff, the department comprises an additional secretary, five joint secretaries, thirteen deputy secretaries, and twenty-five under-secretaries.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

AppointmentIncumbentBranchReferences
Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary (DMA)General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM Indian Armed Forces[14]
Additional SecretaryVice Admiral Atul Anand, AVSM, VSMIndian Navy[15]
Joint Secretary (Army & Territorial Army)Major General K Narayanan, AVSM, SM[16] [17]
Joint Secretary (Navy & Defence Staff)Rear Admiral Vikram Menon, VSM[18]
Joint Secretary (Air & Staff Duties)
Joint Secretary (Establishment & Coordination)Anil Kumar Chhapolia Indian Railway Personnel Service[19]
Joint Secretary (Works & Parliament Affairs)Shantanu Indian Administrative Service[20]

References

Citations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CDS was needed. But Modi govt also creating Department of Military Affairs is a big bonus. Menon. Lt General Prakash. 2019-12-25. ThePrint. en-US. 2019-12-25.
  2. Web site: Govt sets up Dept of Military Affairs to be headed by Chief of Defence Staff. 2019-12-24. Hindustan Times. en. 2019-12-25.
  3. News: CDS will bring in synergy, say experts. Peri. Dinakar. 2019-12-25. The Hindu. 2020-01-11. New Delhi. en-IN. 0971-751X. 13119119.
  4. Web site: CDS to head new dept of military affairs to integrate armed forces with Defence Ministry. Bhalla. Abhishek. 24 December 2019. India Today. 2019-12-25.
  5. Web site: Modi govt's CDS-Dept of Military Affairs: Cosmetic change or increasing defence efficiency?. 25 December 2019. ThePrint. 2019-12-25.
  6. Web site: Cabinet approves creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of four star General. 24 December 2019. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 2019-12-25.
  7. Web site: Creation of New Department of Military Affairs . pib.gov.in . 2 October 2022.
  8. News: Dep. of Military Affairs' rules of business approved. Peri. Dinakar. 2020-01-10. The Hindu. 2020-01-12. en-IN. 0971-751X. 13119119.
  9. Web site: New department of military affairs takes shape under the CDS India News - Times of India. P. Rajat. Jan 10. 2020-01-10. The Times of India. en. New Delhi. 0971-8257. 23379369. 2020-01-12.
  10. Web site: Creation of New Department of Military Affairs. 2020-02-03.
  11. Web site: General Bipin Rawat's department to get 3 two-star military officers. 2020-02-12.
  12. Web site: Bipin Rawat headed-DMA will give preference to domain experts like DRDO and ISRO; The Gen Rawat-headed Department of Military Affairs is currently operating with an interim structure as govt is yet to accord final sanction.. 2020-02-14.
  13. Web site: Proposal on structure of Department of Military Affairs sent to Defence Ministry. The Hindu. 2020-02-14.
  14. Web site: General Anil Chauhan takes over as Chief of Defence Staff; Vows to fulfil the hopes of the Nation & deal with challenges together . pib.gov.in . 2 October 2022.
  15. Web site: Vice Admiral Atul Anand takes over as Additional Secretary, DMA . pib.gov.in.
  16. Web site: Malayali Major-General K Narayanan to take over as 13th colonel of Maratha Light Infantry . The New Indian Express.
  17. Web site: OFFICE ORDER . mod.gov.in . 2 October 2022.
  18. Web site: Who's Who . mod.gov.in . 28 August 2023.
  19. Web site: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS . indianrailways.gov.in . 2 October 2022.
  20. Web site: IAS officers Rajeev Singh Thakur, Shantanu appointed joint secretaries in department of military affairs . The Economic Times . 2 October 2022.

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