The Department of Military Affairs: the fifth Department of the Ministry of Defence, with the Chief of Defence Staff as its Secretary

Background

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA), with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Secretary, was created to facilitate optimal utilization of resources and promote jointness among the three Services. As per the Second Schedule to Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, the subjects allocated to the DMA include the Armed Forces of the Union, namely, Army, Navy and Air Force; the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence comprising of Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Defence Staff Headquarters; the Territorial Army; works relating to Army, Navy and Air Force; procurement exclusive to the Services except capital acquisitions, as per prevalent rules and procedures; promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the Services through joint planning and integration of their requirements; facilitation of restructuring of Military Commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint / theatre commands; and promoting use of indigenous equipment by the Services. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha the Government stated that the Second Schedule clearly identifies the functions of all the five Departments of the Ministry of Defence and thus there will not be any duplication of functions among them, and that work of 23 sections along with around 160 Civilian officers and staff have been transferred from Department of Defence to DMA.