Department of Military Affairs

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is the department within India’s Ministry of Defence responsible for specified military affairs and for promoting coordination among the three armed services. Its mandate combines the administration of allocated service matters with reforms aimed at jointness, meaning that the Army, Navy and Air Force plan and work together rather than function only through separate service structures.

Position in defence administration

Established in 2019, the DMA forms part of the Ministry of Defence. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) heads it as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs.

• The CDS also serves as the Defence Minister’s principal military adviser on tri-service matters; the individual service chiefs continue to advise on matters exclusively concerning their respective services.
• Heading the department does not give the CDS military command over the three service chiefs. Departmental responsibility and operational command are distinct.

Allocated military and administrative responsibilities

The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 specify the subjects assigned to the DMA. These cover service-related administration rather than the entirety of defence policy and acquisition.

• Its allocated subjects include the armed forces of the Union: the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Its remit includes the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, comprising Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Defence Staff Headquarters.
• The Territorial Army and works relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force fall within its allocated responsibilities.
• It handles procurement exclusive to the services, except capital acquisitions, under the applicable rules and procedures. Its procurement mandate therefore does not encompass all defence purchases.

Jointness, restructuring and indigenisation

A central reform mandate is to improve the combined effectiveness of the services through joint planning and integration of their requirements.

• The DMA promotes jointness in procurement, training and staffing across the services.
• It facilitates the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources, including through the establishment of joint or theatre commands.
• It promotes the use of indigenous equipment by the services.