Quick Info
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Department of Military Affairs |
| Hindi Name | सैन्य मामलों का विभाग |
| Abbreviation | DMA |
| Parent Ministry | Ministry of Defence, Government of India |
| Created | December 2019 |
| Became Functional | 1 January 2020 |
| Headed By | Chief of Defence Staff |
| Current Secretary | General N. S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM |
| Administrative Head | Chief of Defence Staff, as ex-officio Secretary |
| Headquarters | Kartavya Bhawan-II, New Delhi |
| Primary Objective | Jointness and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force |
| Official Website | dmamod.gov.in |
What is the Department of Military Affairs?
The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is a department under India’s Ministry of Defence. It deals with matters exclusively connected with the military and works to improve coordination among the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
The department was created as part of India’s Higher Defence Management reforms. Its central objective is to promote jointness, integration, better utilisation of resources, coordinated planning, and modernisation across the three Services. Department of Military Affairs PIB
History and Formation
The creation of the DMA was announced along with the establishment of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in December 2019. The department became functional from 1 January 2020.
The reform was intended to bring greater military expertise and coordination into the Ministry of Defence. The CDS was designated as the ex-officio Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.
At the time of its formation, work relating to 23 sections was transferred from the Department of Defence to the DMA. This included approximately 161 civilian officials and staff members. PIB
Current Leadership
As of 10 August 2026, the Department of Military Affairs is headed by General N. S. Raja Subramani, who also serves as the Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, DMA.
General Raja Subramani assumed charge as India’s third CDS and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs on 31 May 2026. His stated priorities include strengthening jointness and integration among the three Services, accelerating indigenous defence production, and promoting innovation in military capability development. PIB
The DMA functions under the overall political supervision of:
- Shri Rajnath Singh — Defence Minister
- Shri Sanjay Seth — Minister of State for Defence
Integrated Government Online Directory
Main Functions of the DMA
The Department of Military Affairs has been assigned the following major responsibilities:
1. Administration of the Armed Forces
The DMA deals with matters relating to the Armed Forces of the Union, namely:
- Indian Army
- Indian Navy
- Indian Air Force
It also deals with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Staff Headquarters.
2. Promotion of Jointness
One of the main responsibilities of the DMA is to promote joint working among the three Services through:
- Joint planning
- Common training
- Integrated staffing
- Coordinated procurement
- Shared logistics
- Better communication and support systems
3. Restructuring of Military Commands
The DMA facilitates the restructuring of military commands to improve the use of manpower, equipment, infrastructure, and other resources.
This includes work related to joint commands and Integrated Theatre Commands, under which elements of the Army, Navy, and Air Force can operate together under a unified operational structure.
4. Defence Procurement Coordination
The department handles procurement matters that are exclusive to the Services, except for capital acquisitions dealt with under the applicable rules and procedures.
It also works towards reducing duplication in procurement and integrating the requirements of the three Services.
5. Promotion of Indigenous Defence Equipment
The DMA promotes the use of Indian-made military equipment and supports the broader objective of Aatmanirbharta in Defence.
This includes encouraging the development, induction, and integration of indigenous weapons, platforms, communication systems, and other defence technologies. PIB
6. Territorial Army
The department also deals with matters relating to the Territorial Army, a part-time reserve force composed largely of trained civilian volunteers.
The Territorial Army assists the regular Army during emergencies, internal security duties, ecological projects, and other assigned responsibilities. Department of Military Affairs
Organisational Structure
The DMA is organised through several specialised wings. Each wing handles a particular group of military, administrative, operational, or coordination-related subjects.
| Wing | Main Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Air & Staff Duty Wing | Operational, administrative, establishment, personnel, and revenue matters relating to the Indian Air Force |
| Army & Territorial Army Wing | Service-specific matters relating to the Indian Army and Territorial Army |
| Establishment & Coordination Wing | Coordination of work between different verticals of the DMA and other departments |
| Navy & Defence Staff Wing | Administrative and operational matters relating to the Indian Navy and Defence Staff Headquarters |
| Works & Parliament Wing | Works-related matters concerning the three Services and parliamentary coordination |
Organisations Connected with the DMA
The Department of Military Affairs works closely with:
- Indian Army
- Indian Navy
- Indian Air Force
- Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff
- Territorial Army
- Tri-service agencies and organisations
- Defence-related joint commands and institutions
The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) supports joint planning, capability development, and coordination among the three Services under the CDS structure. DMA — Our Armed Forces
Role of the Chief of Defence Staff
The CDS plays a central role in the functioning of the DMA. The CDS:
- Heads the Department of Military Affairs
- Functions as its Secretary
- Acts as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-service matters
- Serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- Administers specified tri-service organisations and agencies
- Promotes jointness in operations, logistics, training, and communications
- Helps prioritise inter-Service capital acquisition proposals
- Advises the Nuclear Command Authority on military matters
However, the CDS does not exercise operational command over the three Service Chiefs. The Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force continue to command their respective Services. PIB
Major Reform Areas
The DMA is associated with several major defence reforms, including:
- Integrated Theatre Commands
- Joint training and tri-service exercises
- Common logistics and infrastructure
- Greater coordination in defence procurement
- Use of indigenous military equipment
- Restructuring of military commands
- Multi-domain operations involving land, air, sea, space, and cyber capabilities
- Implementation of the Inter-Services Organisations Act, 2023
The Act provides a legal framework for commanders of tri-service organisations to exercise authority over personnel belonging to all three Services, helping to improve operational integration. PIB
In July 2026, reports indicated that India’s proposed Integrated Theatre Commands were moving closer to the approval stage, with the CDS seeking clearance from the Ministry of Defence for the next phase of the restructuring process. India Today
Difference Between DMA and the Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence is the larger government ministry responsible for India’s defence administration and policy.
The Department of Military Affairs is one of its departments and focuses specifically on military matters, including the Armed Forces, jointness, military commands, the Territorial Army, service-related procurement, and tri-service integration.
Thus, the DMA is not a separate ministry. It is a specialised department within the Ministry of Defence.
Some Lesser-Known Facts About the DMA
- The DMA was created along with the post of Chief of Defence Staff.
- It became functional on 1 January 2020.
- The CDS serves as the ex-officio Secretary of the department.
- The DMA was created to reduce duplication and encourage joint planning among the three Services.
- Approximately 161 civilian officials and staff were transferred to the department when it was formed.
- The department deals with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Army, and Defence Staff Headquarters.
- The DMA does not replace the three Services or remove the authority of the individual Service Chiefs.
- Integrated Theatre Commands are among the department’s most important long-term reform areas.
- The DMA has a dedicated official website, dmamod.gov.in, with information for citizens, Armed Forces personnel, researchers, and the media. Integrated Government Online Directory
Disclaimer: Departmental structures, office-holders, responsibilities, and reform proposals may change through government notifications. The current leadership and organisational information in this article is stated as of 10 August 2026.
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