(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
Further empowering the newly-created Department of Military Affairs headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the government has provided it with two joint secretaries, 13 deputy secretaries and 22 under secretaries. As per a gazette notification issued by the government in last December, a new Department of Military Affairs ‘ was issued which was to be headed by Gen Rawat. The new department is an addition to the four existing verticals in the Union Defence Ministry the departments of defence, defence research, defence production and development and ex-service welfare The notification had said the new department would handle the armed forces, integrated headquarters of the ministry of defence, the territorial army, procurement exclusive to services except capital acquisitions and jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the services through joint planning and integration of their requirements. It will facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/theatre commands. The department will also work towards promoting the use of indigenous equipment by the services at a time when the armed forces are heavily dependent on imported military hardware. The department will be staffed by a mix of civilian and military officers.