New Delhi: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh today highlighted the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) as the ‘silent yet crucial’ financial backbone of the Armed Forces, particularly commending its role in ensuring financial resilience and resource optimisation during the decisive “Operation Sindoor.”
Speaking at the DAD‘s 278th Foundation Day celebrations in New Delhi, the Raksha Mantri stated that while the world witnessed the valour of the forces, the DAD‘s contribution ensured “efficient resource utilisation, financial management and war preparedness,” securing the timely availability of resources.
“The DAD is not just an accounting organisation; it is an enabler that ensures the smooth functioning of the nation’s economic cycle. It is the invisible bridge that connects finance and the Armed Forces,” Shri Rajnath Singh underscored.
The Raksha Mantri praised the DAD for its strong fiscal prudence, noting its achievement of 100% utilisation of the budget in the previous financial year and efficiently booking 50% of the capital budget expenditure by September 30, 2025. This, he noted, is a clear reflection of efficiency and transparency.
In line with the Digital India initiative, Shri Rajnath Singh applauded DAD’s embrace of technology-enabled reforms. Key successes highlighted include the e-Raksha Awaas project, the successful upgradation to NIDHI 2.0 (an integrated management system for General Provident Fund subscriptions), and the launch of the AI chatbot ‘Gyan Sathi’ for instant, authoritative guidance on rules and procedures.
“These progressive reforms demonstrate the proactive spirit of DAD in embracing technology for efficiency and transparency,” he said, advancing India’s “digitally empowered defence finance system.”
Recognising the increasing complexity of modern warfare, the Raksha Mantri urged the DAD, as the custodian of the defence budget, to act as a vital financial enabler for Research and Development (R&D). He stressed that encouraging R&D is “vital for building the future capabilities of our Armed Forces” and called for DAD to facilitate R&D investments while maintaining budgetary discipline.
Furthermore, Shri Rajnath Singh called upon DAD to leverage its unique Pan-Services Presence—from grassroots to Headquarters—to become a financial enabler of Jointness and Integration among the Tri-Services. He stressed that closer collaboration through financial processes will yield positive results for Tri-Services synergy.
The ceremony, attended by service chiefs including Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, also saw the presentation of the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2025 to recognise outstanding achievements in implementing reforms.
Tracing its origins to the appointment of the Military Pay Master in 1747, the DAD continues to evolve, now serving as a vital ‘Knowledge Partner’ to the Ministry of Defence in defence finance and eco
