The principal task of the Ministry of Defence is to frame policy directions on defence and security related matters. The principal functions of the Departments are as follows:
- The Department of Defence deals with the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and three Services and Various Inter-Service Organisations. It is also responsible for the Defence Budget, establishment matters, defence policy, matters relating to Parliament, defence co-operation with foreign countries and co—ordination of all defence related activities.
- The Department of Defence Production is headed by a Secretary and deals with matters pertaining to defence production, indigenisation of imported stores, equipment and spares, planning and control of departmental production units of the Ordnance Factory Board and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUS).
- The Department of Defence Research and Development is headed by a Secretary, who is the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister. Its function is to advise the Government on scientific aspects of military equipment and logistics and the formulation of research, design and development plans for equipment required by the Services.
- The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare is headed by a Secretary and deals with all resettlement, welfare and pensionary matters of Ex- Servicemen.
HEADQUARTERS INTEGRATED DEFENCE STAFF (HQ IDS)
- HQ IDS was set up in 2001 based on the recommendations of Group of Ministers to review “Higher Defence Management”.
- Under the aegis of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, the organisation has been working towards achievement of synergy amongst the Services.
ARMY, NAVY & AIRFORCE
- At the international level too, the Army has been one of the largest troop contributors to UN missions.
- The modernisation of infantry aims at enhancing its all round Capability and transforming the infantryman into a technically qualified, lethal, self contained soldier under the F-INSAS (Future Infantry Soldier As a System) project.
- In sports activities the contribution can be judged from organizing 4th world Military Games and Olympic medals won in the last two games by the service men.
- India is a maritime nation and our economy is critically dependent on the seas for conduct of trade. More than 90% of our trade by volume, and 77% by value, is transported over the seas.
- Indian Navy‘s deployments as demonstrated during Operation VIIAY and Operation PARAKRAM, will also remain key missions of the Indian Navy.
- Of the 45 ships and submarines presently on order, 43 are being built in Indian shipyards, with the latest ASW Corvettes being planned with an indigenous content of over 90%.
- IAF’s role in “Operation Rahat” in the recent Uttarakhand disaster will feature in the annals of Military Aviation as the biggest ever humanitarian relief and evacuation effort in difficult terrain at high altitude.