CAPF AC 2025 Q38: Defence & Security – Armed Forces & Operations
- (a) It is headed by the Defence Secretary.
- (b) It deals with defence policy and planning.
- (c) It facilitates the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilization of resources.
- (d) It is responsible for defence cooperation with foreign countries.
Answer: (c) It facilitates the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilization of resources.
Explanation
Department of Defence (DoD)
How to think: after 2019 the Ministry of Defence has five departments.
The job of restructuring the military commands went to the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Chief of Defence Staff, not to the DoD.
| Statement | Fact | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| a. Headed by the Defence Secretary | DoD is headed by the Defence Secretary | Correct |
| b. Deals with defence policy and planning | DoD handles the defence of India, policy, planning and the budget | Correct |
| c. Facilitates restructuring of military commands for optimal use of resources | This is a function of the Department of Military Affairs (jointness and theatre commands) | Not correct |
| d. Responsible for defence cooperation with foreign countries | DoD is in charge of defence cooperation with foreign countries | Correct |
Bank key corrected: the stored key was (a), but the Defence Secretary does head the DoD; the statement that is not correct is (c).
Answer: (c).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. This is correct: the Defence Secretary heads the Department of Defence.
- (b) Incorrect. This is correct: the DoD deals with defence policy and planning.
- (c) CORRECT. Restructuring of commands belongs to the Department of Military Affairs, not the DoD.
- (d) Incorrect. This is correct: the DoD handles defence cooperation with foreign countries.
Key point
MoD has five departments: Defence (Defence Secretary), Military Affairs (CDS, created December 2019), Defence Production, Defence Research and Development (Secretary DDR&D), Ex-Servicemen Welfare. DMA works for jointness and theatre commands.
Remember
DoD: Defence Secretary, policy and foreign cooperation; DMA: CDS, commands and jointness.
Common mistakes
- Giving the DMA's work (joint and theatre commands) to the Department of Defence.
- Thinking the CDS heads the DoD; the CDS heads the DMA.
- Missing the word not in the question.
Exam tip
Educated guess: 'jointness' and 'restructuring of commands' are the CDS's job. Only option (c) sounds like the CDS's department.
Sources
- Ministry of Defence, Allocation of Business Rules and Department of Military Affairs (December 2019 notification)
- PIB, Creation of Department of Military Affairs with the Chief of Defence Staff as its head (30 December 2019)