NEW DELHI:  Rajnath Singh, the minister of Defense,  on Monday exhorted Defence Accounts Department to make certain the  judicious use of financial resources through quick and transparent decision-making, terming it the "key" to strengthening the combat readiness of the Armed Forces.

The Minister introduced the two-day Defence Accounts Department (DAD) Controllers' Conference here and referred to the department's employees as the sentinels of the defence finance system who contribute to nation-building by prudently managing the monies given.

Rajnath Singh urged the Defence Accounts Department to further develop its IT capabilities and financial knowledge; bolster the internal vigilance mechanism and enhance the skills of its workforce to more efficiently discharge its duties. "If there is a doubt in the working of any officer, it should be reviewed right away. Complaints should be settled foroth with. If grievances are pending, provision should be made for their weekly or monthly audit and action should be taken," he exorted.

The Defence Accounts Department manages the budget allotted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which includes paying employees' salaries and benefits, paying pensioners, processing requests for financial advice regarding various purchases, and processing first- and third-party claims, in addition to performing other auxiliary tasks like performing internal audits. The MoD has been given a budget of Rs 5.25 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2022–23, including Rs 1.19 lakh crore for pensioners.

Rajnath Singh also emphasised strengthening the internal vigilance mechanism. He emphasied timely payment to all the beneficiaries of payment services including soldiers, pensioners and third parties and quick resolution of any issues.
Rajnath Singh placed a strong emphasis on making sure recipients, including as military, pensioners, and third parties, receive their payments on schedule. He believed that the discussion on "Public Finance Management: Towards a system of faceless transactions" would open the door to more openness in the financing of the military. He exuded assurance that the conference will increase human resource management, provide transparency to the DAD's operations, and enhance its services.

The Defence Minister issued a stamp and a unique cover envelope to mark the anniversary and pay tribute to the DAD's 275 years of existence.

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