Rajnath Singh Urges AFHQ Civilian Services to Enhance Skills & Efficiency at 83rd AFHQ Civilian Services Day

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called upon the personnel of the Armed Forces Headquarters AFHQ Civilian Services to continue enhancing their skills in today’s fast-changing times for efficient policy-making, implementation, and execution of reforms being undertaken in the Ministry of Defence. Addressing the 83rd AFHQ Civilian Services Day in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Singh described civil services as the steel frame of governance and commended the dedication and hard work of the AFHQ personnel in taking forward the ongoing works, including efforts to attain self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta and contribute to the welfare of soldiers. 

He said the personnel are an important link between the Armed Forces and the rest of the civilian government. He also stressed the need to further strengthen their capabilities for enhanced efficiency. Mr. Singh said that unprecedented reforms have been undertaken in his ministry in the last five years, and there has been tremendous progress in several areas. He said the achievements have been recognised globally. He added that this has happened due to teamwork. 

Mr Singh said the Armed Forces and Civil Services should work together from Command



Headquarters and Service Headquarters to the Ministry for better output. He said that by including AFHQ Civil Services officers in key roles in the Ministry of Defence, the quality of decision-making will improve. The Defence Minister urged the Department of Defence to explore the possibilities of better career progression for the personnel of AFHQ Civilian Services. He exhorted the personnel to pay attention to the core values of honesty, discipline, and uniformity. 

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Secretary in Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Dr Niten Chandra, Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

The AFHQ Day is celebrated on 1st August every year to recognise the role of the personnel who work shoulder-to-shoulder with the service personnel, primarily in the three Integrated Service Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, and 24 Inter-Services Organisations of the Ministry of Defence. The foundation of AFHQ cadres was laid on 1st August 1942