Defence Ministry Likely To Have Military Officers As Additional, Joint Secretaries In Newly-Created DMA: Report

The Defence Ministry is likely to have military officers as the joint secretaries and additional secretaries in the newly-created Department of Military Affairs headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, reports Times of India.

According to the report, a proposal has been sent to the government seeking the final approval for appointment of three Major General-rank officers from the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force to look after the bureaucratic work related to their respective forces.

"The proposal for appointment of the three joint secretaries of the DMA including Major General Narayanan, Rear Admiral RK Dhir and Air Vice Marshal SK Jha have been sent to the government for final approval," Defence Ministry sources were quoted in the report as saying.

An another proposal for appointment of Lieutenant General rank officers as Additional Secretaries have also been sent to the government by the DMA, the sources said.

The Department of Military Affairs, which came into existence recently, is an addition to the four existing verticals in the Defence Ministry which includes departments of defence, defence research, defence production and development, and ex-service welfare.