New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has credited the “exceptional back-end support” of the Ministry of Defence’s civilian departments as a vital element in the successful execution of Operation Sindoor, calling for deeper civil-military synergy to fortify India’s security framework. He was addressing the 84th Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) Civilian Services Day at DRDO Bhawan in the capital on August 1, 2025.
“A War Is Fought by the Nation, Not Just the Armed Forces”
Calling the AFHQ Civilian Services a “strong pillar of a modern and integrated national defence system,” Shri Singh underlined the critical role of civilian personnel in both peacetime and wartime operations. Referring to the evolving global security environment, he remarked:
“We cannot leave scope for even the slightest negligence or mistake.”
He urged civil and military personnel to move forward with “dynamism and an innovative spirit,” emphasising that wars today require an entire nation’s mobilisation, not just the armed forces.
Institutional Memory and Strategic Continuity
Highlighting the institutional strength of AFHQ Services, Rajnath Singh said:
“AFHQ Services acts as an institutional memory for the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It provides consistency, domain expertise and uniformity in the administration, while playing a key role in policy continuity and establishing civil-military synergy.”
He praised the services for strengthening India’s defence setup, particularly by contributing to administrative stability and policy execution during operational situations like Operation Sindoor.
Modernising Mindsets: Training Beyond the Technical
Focusing on capacity development, Rajnath Singh encouraged AFHQ officials to learn from best practices followed by other Ministries and nations:
“Emerging technologies, new challenges and changing global scenario indicate that training should not be just a formal process, but a continuous cycle of development. Skill upgradation, ethical orientation and behavioural excellence need to be added as integral parts of training.”
He insisted that value orientation must complement technical training, stating:
“Training components must not be limited to technical proficiency, but also include value orientation, which can connect actions with national interests. This would make AFHQ a value-based institution along with an administrative structure.”
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Digital Leap and Thought Leadership
As part of the celebrations, the Raksha Mantri launched the redeveloped website of the Office of Joint Secretary & Chief Administrative Officer (www.caomod.gov.in). The site will serve as a digital portal for both employees and the public, providing access to official updates, transfer orders, pay slips, Form-16s, medical allowance status, and training applications.
He also released a book and a magazine—Viksit Bharat@2047: Karmikon Ke Vichar, comprising 40 articles written by MoD employees on key national issues like digitisation, NEP 2020, Artificial Intelligence, Atmanirbharta in Defence, and poverty alleviation; and Samvad, the 32nd issue of the AFHQ magazine, featuring essays, poems, articles, and travelogues.
Recognising Service and Talent
Rajnath Singh felicitated AFHQ personnel and their children for excellence in various fields including sports and academics, underlining the importance of recognising holistic development across the organisation.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was attended by top defence officials including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Dr Niten Chandra, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat, and Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Dr Mayank Sharma, alongside other senior MoD officers.
AFHQ Day: Celebrating Civil-Military Partnership
AFHQ Day, observed annually on August 1, recognises the vital role of civilian personnel working shoulder-to-shoulder with military counterparts across the three Integrated Service Headquarters, HQ IDS, and 24 Inter-Service Organisations under MoD. The occasion aims to reinforce the sense of unity and shared purpose within India’s defence administration.
