← 30 October 2026's Current Affairs · Defence GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
DMA gets first IAF Additional Secretary; Singhal given ITBP charge
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
Who actually heads the Department of Military Affairs? The CDS-Secretary link Prelims defence questions test
Air Marshal Vikram Gaur is DMA Additional Secretary; Singhal holds ITBP charge.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
Air Marshal Vikram Gaur has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs, the first Indian Air Force officer in that post.
DMA is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, who is also its Secretary.
Separately, the Home Ministry gave Sanjay Singhal, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal, additional charge as DG of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- Air Marshal Vikram Gaur is Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), the first IAF officer in that post
- DMA is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, who is also its Secretary
- DMA was created in January 2020 within the Ministry of Defence, with General Bipin Rawat as the first CDS
- Sanjay Singhal, DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), has been given additional charge as DG of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- SSB and ITBP are Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, who is also its Secretary.
- The Chief of Defence Staff is the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
- The Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Sashastra Seema Bal are Central Armed Police Forces functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- The Defence Secretary heads the Department of Defence, which is separate from the Department of Military Affairs.
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS3 Internal and external security: higher defence organisation. The creation of the CDS and DMA aimed at jointness and theatre integration among the three Services; placing an IAF officer as Additional Secretary reflects a tri-service, not Army-centric, civil-military structure. The way forward is to deepen integration through theatre commands, joint procurement and clear lines between DMA and the civilian Department of Defence.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The Department of Military Affairs, to which Air Marshal Vikram Gaur was appointed Additional Secretary in October 2026, is headed by the:
- Chief of Defence Staff
- Defence Secretary
- Chief of the Air Staff
- National Security Adviser
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: A — Correct: Chief of Defence Staff — The CDS is also the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs, which he heads. • Defence Secretary — wrong: The Defence Secretary heads the Department of Defence, a separate department. • Chief of the Air Staff — wrong: The Air Chief commands the IAF and does not head the Department of Military Affairs. • National Security Adviser — wrong: The NSA advises on security policy and does not head a Ministry of Defence department.
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