Introduction
The Department of National Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, consisting of about 1.3 million men and women on active duty.
Establishment of DND
The department was formed in 1958, after the three-way merger of Technical Development Establishment of the Indian Army, the Directorate of Technical Development and Production, and the Defense Science Organization. The department is responsible for the Defense Research and Development Organization.
Departments
- Department of Defense(DoD)- This department is headed by the Defense Secretary & deals with the defence of India including defense policy, preparation for defense, acts conducive to prosecution of war, the Reserves of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Defense Accounts, Indian Coast Guard, Border Roads.
- Department of Military Affairs (DMA) - This Department is headed by the Chief of Defense Staff as its secretary. It deals with procurement exclusive to the Indian Armed Forces except capital acquisitions. It is designed to promote jointness among the military services of India.
- Department of Defense Production (DDP)- This Department is headed by the Defense Production Secretary & is responsible for matters pertaining to defence production, planning and control of departmental production units of the Ordnance Factories Board, indigenization of imported stores equipment and spares, and for defense public sector undertakings
- Department of Defense Research and Development (DRDO) - This department is headed by the Defense Research and Development Secretary and ex-officio chairperson of Defense Research and Development Organization. The department was formed in 1958, after the three-way merger of Technical Development Establishment of the Indian Army, the Directorate of Technical Development and Production, and the Defense Science Organization. The department is responsible for the Defense Research and Development Organization.
- Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) - This department 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 Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme come under the purview of DESW.
The Defense Secretary of India functions as head of the Department of Defense, and is additionally responsible for coordinating the activities of the departments in the ministry.
