Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) played a silent but crucial role during Operation Sindoor by ensuring efficient resource utilisation, financial management and war preparedness. Singh was addressing the gathering during the 278th Foundation Day celebrations of the DAD, organised here on Wednesday.
He commended the Department for its historic legacy and its continuing role as the financial backbone of India’s Armed Forces. “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. Behind the valour of our soldiers lies your silent but decisive contribution,” said the Defence Minister.
He also highlighted the success of the e-Raksha Awaas project, the upgradation of NIDHI 1.0 to NIDHI 2.0, and the ongoing transition to TULIP 2.0. “These progressive reforms demonstrate the proactive spirit of DAD in embracing technology for efficiency and transparency. They also underline India’s determination to move towards a digitally empowered defence finance system,” he added.
Calling for a renewed push towards defence R&D, the Defence Minister said, “In today’s warfare, new technologies have often been the surprise element. They are the outcome of years of research and development. This makes it imperative for us to create an innovative ecosystem that supports R&D in defence.”
Drawing attention to the government’s emphasis on jointness and integration among the Tri-Services, Singh urged the DAD to act as a financial enabler of this process. “You are one of the few institutions that has a presence from the grassroots level to the headquarters of all three services. I call upon you to work closely with the Services and explore how you can further jointness and integration through financial processes. This will yield positive results for our Tri-Services synergy,” he underscored.
The Raksha Mantri stressed the need for speed and efficiency in defence procurement, both revenue and capital. He pointed out that the new Defence Procurement Manual 2025 had been launched to expedite revenue procurement and promote self-reliance. Similarly, the ongoing review of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) will help streamline capital procurement.