Army has got responsibility but got no authority to execute.

Secretary of
Defence has got authority but no responsibility. This mismatch has resulted in
the problems in better co-ordination and co-operation.
He observed that Committees were formed for reforms in defence.
K.Subramaniyam committee's recommendations were not implemented and
Naresh chandra report was not published.
He expressed that the Single file system which was followed in all other
ministries for the fast process is not followed here at Ministry of Defence.
Instead, a dual file system, in which a proposal initiated from Army staff moves
slowly and ends at Ministry office. Then a fresh file with diluted proposals starts
and delays the real needs of army.
Higher direction of War:
Lack of clarity leads to failure in the higher direction of war. The communication
and directions happens at two level- Military and political masters and Military
and Bureaucrats. At the initial years, the relationship was good and one to one
relation at theatre level during war periods proved successfully. He quoted that
this relationship as a given one and the greater support from the public during
war periods was unique which cannot be seen anywhere in the world.
The earlier set-up of authority through Minister of Defence by his secretaries
such as allocation and transaction of business code had kept Armed forces out
of direct responsibility. The two main components of Arun Singh's report on
Integration of Ministry of Defence- Jointness between tri-services at theatre
level and decision making at higher levels was implemented at snail speed.
Civilian control of Army was the need of the hour in 1960's. But as the USA and
UK had evolved with Integrated Defence Staff, in which Army controls army is
the need of the hour for better implementation of required reforms. This
weakness can be solved either with constitutional amendment or by change in
rules by Government.
As he quoted as example of weekly Monday morning meetings of 3 chiefs with
Minister of Defence which was a thing of 1980's should come back.
Recommendations
Secretaries of Ministry of Defence should be Military men for the better
understanding of issues and urgencies and implement things with same.
Secretary of defence production should be held by Lt.General rank officer, for
better understanding of the demands of army with field knowledge, will design
and produce which aplty meets the requirements.
Secretary of ex-servicemen welfare need to be a military man, who can truly
understand the needs of the ex-servicemen and his kind problems after
retirement and needs of families of ex-servicemen.
DRDO was mandated only to design and the production of equipments was
done by others. But need for indegenisation lead to DRDO evolved as producer
too. A board of DRDO like Railway board will ensure autonomy and independent

functioning.
For better co-operation,within the available system,youngsters of IAS should
work as attaches with defence departments.