Introduction
India’s defence landscape is vast, complex, and constantly evolving. At the heart of it lies the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the central authority responsible for safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, managing military forces, and driving indigenous capability development. However, what exactly does the MoD do? And how is its immense workload divided among its departments?
MoD is divided into five key departments—Defence, Military Affairs, Defence Production, Defence R&D, and Ex-Servicemen Welfare—each with specific mandates that cater to different facets of national defence. Together, these departments ensure that India’s defence policy, strategy, operations, innovation, production, and veteran welfare are well-coordinated. This article explains in detail, the taskings of each department under the MoD and its rationale.
1. Department of Defence (Raksha Vibhag)
The Department of Defence is the backbone of the MoD. It is responsible for crafting and implementing defence policy, coordinating military preparedness during peace and war, and handling various administrative aspects. This department acts as the central planner for India’s defence strategy. Its wide-ranging responsibilities indicate its role as the connective tissue linking operational requirements with administrative support. Meanwhile, control over think tanks and institutions ensures that policymaking is supported by in-house research and strategic foresight.
Task list of the Department of Defence includes:
- Defence of India and every part thereof including defence policy and preparation for defence and all such acts as may be conducive in times of war to its prosecution and after its termination to effective demobilisation.
- The Reserves of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
- The National Cadet Corps
- Remounts, Veterinary and Farms Organisation.
- Canteen Stores Department (India).
- Civilian Services paid from Defence Estimates.
- Hydrographic surveys and preparation of navigational charts.
- Formation of Cantonments, delimitation/excision of Cantonment areas, local self-government in such areas, the constitution and powers within such areas of Contonment Boards and authorities and the regulation of house accommodation (including the control of rents) in such areas.
- Acquisition, requisitioning, custody and relinquishment of land and property for defence purposes. Eviction of unauthorised occupants from defence land and property.
- Defence Accounts Department.
- Purchase of food stuffs for military requirements and their disposal excluding those entrusted to Department of Food and Public Distribution. All matters relating to Coast Guard Organisation, including
- surveillance of maritime zones against oil spills;
- combating oil spills in various maritime zones, except in the waters of ports and within 500 metres of off-shore exploration and production platforms, coastal refineries and associated facilities such as Single Buoy Mooring (SBM), Crude Oil Terminal (COT) and pipelines;
- Central Coordinating Agency for Combating of Oil Pollution in the coastal and marine environment of various maritime zones;
- implementation of National Contingency Plan for oil spill disaster; and
- undertaking oil spill prevention and control, inspection of ships and offshore platforms in the country, except within the limits of ports as empowered by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958).
- Matters relating to diving and related activities in the country.
- Capital Acquisitions exclusive to the Defence Services.
- All matters relating to Border Roads Development Board and Border Roads Organisation.
- 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.
2. Department of Military Affairs (Sainya Karya Vibhag)
Established in 2019 to bring reform and integration, the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) handles the operational and personnel aspects of the Indian Armed Forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force. It also promotes jointness and structural reforms across the services.
The DMA was a much-needed reform to break the silos among the services and foster synergy in training, staffing, and operations. Its role in promoting joint commands and indigenous procurement directly supports long-term goals like theatre integration and self-reliance. By removing duplication across services and encouraging shared logistics and command structures, the DMA is steering India toward a modern, networked force.
Task list of the Department of Military Affairs includes:
- The Armed Forces of the Union, namely, Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence comprising of Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Defence Staff Headquarters.
- The Territorial Army.
- Works relating to Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Procurement exclusive to the Services except capital acquisitions, as per prevalent rules and procedures.
- Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the Services through joint planning and integration of their requirements.
- Facilitation of restructuring of Military Commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint / theatre commands.
- Promoting use of indigenous equipment by the Services.
3. Department of Defence Production (Raksha Utpadan Vibhag)
This department is charged with building India’s industrial defence base. It oversees a wide range of public sector undertakings (PSUs), and its mandate spans everything from quality assurance and standardisation to private sector participation and export promotion.
As India seeks to become a net defence exporter, this department is central to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The reorganisation of ordnance factories into corporate entities, and the push for export-ready production standards, marks a shift toward efficiency and competitiveness. By working closely with both state-owned and private manufacturers, this department plays a dual role: meeting military requirements and enhancing India’s defence economy.
Task list for Department of Defence Production includes:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
- Bharat Electronics Limited.
- Mazagon Dock Limited.
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited.
- Goa Shipyard Limited.
- Bharat Dynamics Limited.
- Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited.
- Defence Quality Assurance Organisations including Directorate General Quality Assurance and Directorate General Aeronautical Quality Assurance.
- Standardisation of defence equipment and stores including Directorate of Standardisation.
- Bharat Earth Movers Limited.
- Development of the aeronautics industry and coordination among users other than those concerned with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Department of Space.
- Indigenisation, development and production of defence equipment and participation of the private sector in the manufacture of defence equipment.
- Defence exports and international Cooperation in defence production.
- Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
- Munitions India Limited.
- Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited.
- Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited.
- Troop Comforts Limited.
- Yantra India Limited.
- India Optel Limited.
- Gliders India Limited.
4. Department of Defence Research and Development (Raksha Anusandhan Tatha Vikas Vibhag)
This department, primarily through DRDO, leads India’s efforts in military science and innovation. It is tasked with designing, testing, and evaluating systems needed for modern warfare—from weapons and surveillance to logistics and emerging technologies.
This department bridges India’s strategic ambition with scientific capability. It’s not just about developing new weapons—it’s about anticipating future warfare domains like AI, cyber, and autonomous systems. The department’s role in vetting foreign technology imports and ensuring intellectual property protection also positions it as a key player in India’s defence diplomacy and tech sovereignty. However, delays and coordination issues often challenge its effectiveness—making inter-agency synergy critical for mission success.
Task list for Department of Defence Research and Development includes:
- Apprising, assessing and advising Raksha Mantri on the influence on National Security of emerging developments in Science and Technology.
- Rendering advice to Raksha Mantri and to the three services and inter services organisations on all scientific aspects of weapons; weapon-platforms; military operations; surveillance;support and logistics in all likely theatres of conflict.
- To function, with the concurrence of the Ministry of External Affairs, as the nodal coordinating agency of the Ministry of Defence on all matters relating to Instruments of Accord with foreign Governments relating to the acquisition of technologies whose export to India is the subject of national security related controls of foreign Governments.
- Formulation and execution of programmes of scientific research and design, development, test and evaluation, in fields of relevance to national security.
- Direction and administration of agencies, laboratories, establishments, ranges, facilities, programmes and projects of the Department.
- Aeronautical Development Agency.
- All matters relating to certification of the design air worthiness of military aircraft, their equipment and stores.
- All matters relating to the protection and transfer of technology generated by the activities of the Department.
- Scientific analysis support and participation in the acquisition and evaluation proceedings of all weapon systems and related technologies proposed to be acquired by the Ministry of Defence.
- To render advice on the technological and intellectual property aspects of the import of technology by production units and enterprises manufacturing, or proposing to manufacture, equipment and stores for the Armed Services.
- To deal with reference made under section 35 of the Patents Act, 1970 (39 of 1970).
- Financial and other material assistance to individuals, institutions and bodies corporate, for study and for the training of manpower on aspects of Science and Technology that bear on national security.
- In consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, international relations in matters connected with the role of Science and Technology in national security including- (a) matters relating to relations with Research Organisations of other countries and with Inter-governmental agencies, particularly those which concern themselves, interalia, with the scientific and technological aspects of national security; (b) arrangements with Universities, educational and research-oriented institutions or bodies corporate aboard to provide for foreign scholarships and the training of Indian scientists and technologists under the administrative control of the Department.
- Execution of works and purchase of lands debitable to the budget of the Department.
- All matters relating to personnel under the control of the Department.
- Acquisition of all types of stores, equipment and services debitable to the budget of the Department.
- Financial sanctions relating to the Department.
- Any other activity assigned to, and accepted by, the Department through understandings or arrangements with any other Ministry, Department, Agency of the Government of India whose activities have a bearing on the scientific and technological aspects of national security.
5. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Poorva Senani Kalyan Vibhag)
This department ensures the long-term well-being of India’s armed forces veterans. It manages pensions, healthcare, and resettlement programs for ex-servicemen and their dependents. This department reinforces the social contract between the armed forces and the state. As the number of veterans rises, its mandate becomes more vital and more complex. Beyond welfare, it plays a strategic role in ensuring that military service remains an attractive career. By facilitating resettlement and health schemes, it helps integrate veterans into civilian life while maintaining their connection to national service.
Task list for Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare includes:
- Matters relating to Armed Forces Veterans (Ex-Servicemen) including pensioners.
- Armed Forces Veterans (Ex-Servicemen) Contributory Health Scheme
- Matters relating to Directorate General of Resettlement and Kendriya Sainik Board.
- Administration of- (a) the Pension Regulations for the Army, 1961 (Parts I and II); (b) the Pension Regulations for the Air Force, 1961 (Parts I and II); (c) the Navy (Pension) Regulations, 1964; and (d) the Entitlement Rules to Casualty Pensionary Awards to the Armed Forces Personnel, 1982.
MoD at a Glance: Budget and Manpower
- Budget Allocation (2024–25): ₹6.22 lakh crore (~US$75 billion), marking a 4.72% increase over the previous year. This constitutes approximately 13% of the total Union Budget, making it the highest allocation among all ministries.
- Capital Outlay: ₹1.72 lakh crore dedicated to the modernization of the armed forces.
- Defence Pensions: ₹1.41 lakh crore allocated for pensions.
- Research & Development: ₹23,855 crore allocated to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Thus, the Ministry of Defence is not a monolith—it is a dynamic, multi-layered organisation balancing policy, operations, industry, innovation, and welfare. Each department plays a distinct but interconnected role in strengthening India’s defence posture. Understanding this structure hence will also help to understand how India plans, equips, and sustains its military.
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