Ministry of Defence (India)

A Military Department was created in the Supreme Government of the English East India Company at Calcutta in the year 1776, having the main function to sift and record orders relating to the Army issued by various Departments of the Government of East India Company. The Military Department initially functioned as a branch of the Public Department and maintained a list of Army personnel. at the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi, Notable officers included - Philip Mason, Ambrose Dundas, Richard Tottenham, Charles Ogilvie. Prior to partition of Indian subcontinent, there was unified defense system for the entire subcontinent. However, with the creation of two separate nations, the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi was split and a new Ministry of Defence (Pakistan) was created in Pakistan. The separation of the defense ministries was part of the larger administrative and bureaucratic split that saw Indian military assets, personnel, and infrastructure divided between the two nations. Role The responsibility for national defence "rests with the Cabinet, which is discharged through the Ministry of Defence, which provides the policy framework and wherewithal to the Armed Forces to discharge their responsibilities in the context of the defence of the country. The Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) is the head of the Ministry of Defence." The Defence Ministry is responsible for "obtaining policy directions of the Government on all defence and security related matters" and communicating these directions to "Services Headquarters, Inter-Services Organisations, Production Establishments and Research and Development Organisations". The MoD works closely with the National Security Council, Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Modern era: 20th and 21st century The functions of MoD which in 1947 was mainly logistic support to the armed forces, have undergone far-reaching changes. In November 1962, following the 1962 war, a Department of Defence Production was set up to deal with research, development and production of defence equipment. In November 1965, the Department of Defence Supplies was created for planning and execution of schemes for import substitution of requirements for defence purposes. These two Departments were later merged to form the Department of Defence Production and Supplies. In 1980, the Department of Defence Research and Development was created. In January 2004, the Department of Defence Production and Supplies was renamed the Department of Defence Production. A Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister was appointed to advise on scientific aspects of military equipment and the research and design of defence forces equipment. The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare was created in 2004. Notable officers in recent history in MOD include - T. N. Seshan, R. K. Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri. ==Property portfolio==

The Ministry of Defence is one of India's largest landowners, owning over 17.99 lakh acres of land across India, and the largest landowner among all ministries of the Government of India. This is managed by Defence Estates Organisation under the Ministry of Defence. Main Building The current headquarters of the Ministry of Defence is in Secretariat Building, New Delhi. Under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, the Ministry will be relocated into a Defence Enclave inside the Common Central Secretariat. The Defence Enclave will be housed within specific blocks of the Central Vista Secretariat, currently identified as CCS‑6, CCS‑7, and CCS‑8. ==Organisation==

Departments The Ministry of Defence consists of five departments; the Department of Defence (DoD), the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), the Department of Defence Production (DDP), the Department of Defence Research and Development (DRDO), and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW). The Defence Secretary of India functions as head of the Department of Defence, and is additionally responsible for coordinating the activities of the departments in the ministry. It is also responsible for the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, National Defence College and any other organisation within the Ministry of Defence whose remit is broader than military matters. It is also responsible for the Defence Budget, matters relating to the Parliament, defence cooperation with foreign countries and coordination of all activities. and the responsibilities notified by Cabinet Secretariat order on 30 December 2019. • The Department of Defence Production, headed by the Defence Production Secretary, the department was set up in November 1962 and is responsible for matters pertaining to defence production, planning and control of departmental production units of the Ordnance Factories Board, indigenisation of imported stores equipment and spares and has ownership over the following central public sector undertakings • The Department of Defence Research and Development is headed by the Defence Research and Development Secretary and ex-officio chairperson of Defence Research and Development Organisation. The department was formed in 1958, after the three-way merger of the Technical Development Establishment of the Indian Army, the Directorate of Technical Development and Production, and the Defence Science Organisation. The department is responsible for the Defence Research and Development Organisation. • The Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW) is headed by the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Secretary. The department was set up in 2004 to look after veteran affairs. The Directorate General of Resettlement, the Kendriya Sainik Board and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme come under the purview of DESW. Military departments and services File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|Indian Army File:Naval Ensign of India.svg|Indian Navy File:Air Force Ensign of India.svg|Indian Air Force File:Indian Coast Guard flag.svg|Indian Coast Guard Finance Division The Finance Division of the Ministry of Defence is headed by the Financial Adviser (Defence Services). The financial advisor exercises financial control over proposals involving expenditure from the Defence Budget and is responsible for the internal audit and accounting of defence expenditure. In the latter tasks, the financial advisor is assisted by the Controller General of Defence Accounts. Schools • Sainik Schools • Indian Army Public Schools Institutes and Universities • Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses • Defence Institute of Advanced Technology • Defence Institute of Psychological Research • National Defence University • Aeronautical Development Agency Inter-services organisations Source: It acts as the point organisation for integration of policy, doctrine, war-fighting and procurement by employing best management practices. The chairman of Integrated Defences Staff is a 4-star General (or his equivalent in the Air Force or the Navy). The first Chief of Defence Staff was General Bipin Rawat, who took over on 1 January 2020. Chiefs of Staff Committee "Chiefs of Staff are the authority for advising the Defence Minister and normally through him the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on all military matters which require ministerial consideration". The Integrated Defence Staff is '"the principal arm and Secretariat to the Chiefs of Staff Committee". Composition The Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of: (a) Chief of the Army Staff (COAS); (b) Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS); (c) Chief of the Air Staff (CAS); and (d) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) (non-voting member). The Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence is invited to attend whenever needed. The position of COSC has ceased to exist with the creation of Chief of Defence Staff. General Bipin Rawat was appointed the first Chief of Defence Staff in 2019. He died in a helicopter crash on 8 December 2021. ==Organizational structure==

Cabinet MoD is headed by the Defence Minister of India, who is supported by one, or more than one, minister of state. His/her role is to ensure that the MoD operates effectively as a department of the government. Defence Secretary is assisted by additional secretaries and joint secretaries to Government of India posted in the ministry. The Defence Secretary, generally, is an officer from the Indian Administrative Service, apart from the Defence Secretary, there are three other secretary-level posts in the Ministry of Defence. The Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister plays a key role in the formulation of research and development policies and in promoting self-reliance in Indian defence industries. Chiefs of the tri-services and Defence Staff In 1955, the title of Commander-in-Chief was abolished and the three service chiefs were designated as the Chief of the Army Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff. The heads of the three services of Indian Armed Forces are: • Chief of Defence Staff — General Anil Chauhan • Chief of the Army Staff — General Upendra Dwivedi • Chief of the Naval Staff — Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi • Chief of the Air Staff — Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh Vice Chiefs of the tri-services • Vice Chief of the Army Staff — Lieutenant General N.S.Raja Subramani • Vice Chief of the Naval Staff — Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan • Vice Chief of the Air Staff — Air Marshal Surjeet Pushpakar Dharkar ==Services==

Civil Services under Ministry of Defence Other services under Ministry of Defence • Armed Forces Medical Services ==Initiatives==

SRIJAN portal The SRIJAN is a portal launched by MoD to take up the products imported for indigenisation. According to Ministry; it displays defence products that have been imported recently and will tag with the Defence Public sector undertakings, Ordinance Factory Board and others to push for its domestic manufacturing for exports in future. ==Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Other Bodies==

The Ministry of Defence owns and oversees several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) that play a vital role in India's defence production ecosystem. These Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) are tasked with the design, development, and manufacturing of defence equipment and technologies, including arms, ammunition, ships, aircraft, and electronics, to meet the strategic requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. The DPSUs operate under the Department of Defence Production. • Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt. Ltd. • Defence Innovation Organisation ==List of operations by the Ministry of Defence==

The Ministry of Defence has overseen all major military actions involving the Indian Armed Forces since independence. Under its authority, India has fought four full-scale wars—1947–48, 1965, 1971, and 1999—each involving coordinated tri-service operations. Apart from full-scale wars, the MoD has directed or approved around five to six limited border conflicts, including standoffs with China at Nathu La, Sumdorong Chu, Doklam, and Galwan. It has also overseen two to three cross-border strikes, notably the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot air strike. Counter-insurgency operations have been a continuous MoD-led effort, with more than ten long-term missions in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur. India's participation in about five to six UN peacekeeping missions has also been managed by the MoD. In addition, the MoD has led over ten humanitarian and disaster relief operations, both domestically and abroad, using military assets. While covert operations remain classified, many are believed to involve MoD-level oversight when military resources are deployed. ==Pacts and Collaboration==

USA India and United States have together signed foundational agreement as defence partners. The following pacts are - General Security of Military Information Agreement (2002), Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018), Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (2020), Indo-U.S. Defense Framework Agreement (2005), India-U.S. Defense Trade and Technology Initiative, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. In 2016, the United States designated India as a Major Defense Partner and was elevated to Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status. United Kingdom India and United Kingdom have together signed India-UK Defense Cooperation Agreement (2006), Joint Statement on Strengthening India-UK Strategic Partnership (2010). The United Kingdom in February 2025 announced the formal launch of "Defence Partnership–India", or DP-I, a dedicated cell within the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) for deepening cooperation with India. The UK has also supported India's efforts to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Israel India and Israel have together signed India-Israel Defense Cooperation Agreement (2003). Australia India and Australia have together signed India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020), Cooperation in Defense and Security (2009). Other countries India has signed defense pacts and strategic partnerships with more than 18 countries including Russia, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil. ==Related legislation==

The legislation related to India's Ministry of Defence includes the foundational Acts for each service branch: the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957, and the Air Force Act, 1950. The other key laws include the Indian Territorial Army Act, 1948, the National Cadet Corps Act, 1948, the Civil Defence Act, 1968, and the Defence of India Act, 1971, which was used during the Indo-Pak war. Modern policy-focused legislation includes the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, promoting indigenous production and self-reliance. ==Controversies==