Overview
On 3 August 2026, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh addressed the 85th AFHQ Civilian Services Day in New Delhi. He stressed that a stronger military‑civil integration is essential for a resilient defence ecosystem capable of meeting emerging security and technological challenges.
Key Developments
- Launch of digital initiatives: Internet‑Based Accommodation Management System (IBAMS), integration of eHRMS with TULIP 2.0, and onboarding on the Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW).
- Release of the 34th issue of Samvad magazine featuring essays, poems and travelogues by defence employees.
- Recognition of AFHQ personnel and their children for achievements in sports and academics.
- Call for AFHQ to become the "strategic brain" of defence management by enhancing research, geo‑strategic thinking and innovation.
Important Facts
The Ministry of Defence oversees three Integrated Service Headquarters, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and 24 Inter‑Service Organisations. The AFHQ cadre was created on 1 August 1942 to organise civilian posts under the control of the Chief Administrative Officer. Senior officials present at the event included Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminath