NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday launched the integration of the Indian Army Financial Information System (IAFIS) with the SAKSHAM platform on the 279th Defence Accounts Department Day.
Addressing the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that, after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has emerged as the country’s second-largest auditor, while emphasising the need to adopt best practices in quality auditing.
Drawing a parallel with the ongoing national cleanliness drive (Swachhata Abhiyan), Singh urged the department to launch a dedicated drive for the “cleanliness” of its digital data to ensure it remains clean and well-maintained.
He further noted that the DAD has already achieved success in cleaning data under the SPARSH portal, adding that the next logical step should be the automation of its grievance redressal system.
“After the CAG, the DAD is today the country’s second-largest auditor. However, there is a need to adopt the best practices in the field of quality audit. A cleanliness drive (Swachhata Abhiyan) is ongoing in the country. I would like you to launch a drive for the ‘cleanliness’ of your digital data as well. Keep all your data clean and well-maintained. The DAD has already achieved success in cleaning SPARSH data; I would say the next step should be to automate the grievance redressal system,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister also emphasised that the DAD needs to move towards an ‘Any Time Review of Balance Budget’, emphasising that financial systems should be sophisticated enough to provide real-time updates on the department’s financial position without having to wait for quarterly reports.
He noted that equal emphasis must be placed on the integration of the financial system, just like the integration of the armed forces.
“You are the common thread of the Ministry of Defence. Now, moving beyond the ‘Annual Review of Balance Budget,’ we should move towards an ‘Any Time Review of Balance Budget.’ Our systems should be so smart that we should know our financial position at any given time, without having to wait for quarterly reports…Today, when we are emphasising the integration of the Armed Forces, at such a time, we should also focus on the integration of the financial system,” Singh added.
Highlighting the department’s performance, Singh declared that DAD’s expenditure budget for the financial year 2025-26 reached nearly 100 per cent and described it as a major milestone and credited the joint efforts of the DAD and the three services for this achievement.
“You carry the responsibility of a large budget. Our defence budget is larger than all other ministries. In 2025-26, our expenditure booking has been nearly 100 per cent; this is a major milestone of your joint efforts and those of the three services,” asserted Singh.
The Defence Minister further asserted that DAD should remain at the forefront of implementing new technologies.
“Our financial management plays a major role in the objectives of the domestic defence industry and ‘Make in India.’ With the help of AI, we can detect fraud. I would like the DAD to remain at the forefront of implementing new technologie,” emphasised Singh.
The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) is celebrating its 279th Annual Day today in New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the celebrations at Dr DS Kothari Auditorium, DRDO Bhawan.
