Department of Military Affairs

Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is the department in charge of military matters within the Ministry of Defence. Headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, as its ex-officio secretary, the DMA provides integration between the armed forces of the Union and the Ministry of Defence.

Consisting of military and civilian officers, the DMA will promote jointness in various areas such as procurement, training and staffing. The DMA will deal with the headquarters of three armed forces, the tri-service Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), Army, Naval, Air and Defence Staff Headquarters, the Territorial Army and certain procurement requirements. DMA will also deal with promoting jointness through joint planning, facilitate restructuring for optimal utilisation of resources and promote the use of indigenous equipment by the Services. The DMA, being under the Chief of Defence Staff will also deal with the role and responsibilities assigned to the chief.

Organisation
The department comes under the Ministry of Defence and is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, who acts as its ex-officio secretary. In addition to the Chief of Defence Staff, the department comprises two joint secretaries, thirteen deputy secretaries, and twenty-five under-secretaries.