Indian Defence Accounts Service

An overview of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), one of the oldest Central Group 'A' Civil Services of India.

Indian Defence Accounts Service
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Service Overview
AbbreviationI.D.A.S.
Country India
Controlling AuthorityMinistry of Defence
Legal personalityGovernmental: Civil Service
General natureDefence Procurement, Payments, Accounts, Audit & Financial Advice
Service Chiefs
Financial Adviser (Defence Services)Sugata Ghosh Dastidar, IDAS
Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA)Dr Mayank Sharma, IDAS
Head of the Civil Services
Cabinet SecretaryT. V. Somanathan, IAS

Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) (Hindi: भारतीय रक्षा लेखा सेवा) is a Central Group 'A' Civil Service of the Republic of India established to provide Financial Advice, Payment, Accounts and Audit services to the Defence Services i.e. Indian Armed Forces (viz Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard) and other allied organisations viz. Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Military Engineer Services, Border Roads Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation etc.

IDAS officers are Group-'A' gazetted civilian officers under Ministry of Defence, Government of India. They are primarily recruited through the Civil Services Examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year. The cadre controlling authority (CCA) of IDAS is the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). The CGDA is the service head of the Indian Defence Accounts Service and also heads the Defence Accounts Department.