Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday stressed the need for greater integration between the military and civilian wings of the Ministry of Defence, saying closer coordination is essential to build a stronger and more resilient defence ecosystem capable of addressing evolving security and technological challenges.

Addressing the 85th Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) Civilian Services Day celebrations in New Delhi, Singh said both uniformed personnel and civilian officers are guided by the shared principle of "Nation First". He noted that when both components work towards the same objective, they collectively strengthen the country's defence architecture and national capabilities.

The Defence Minister said military and administrative functions cannot operate in isolation, as continuity and expertise are required across policy formulation, administration, human resource management, finance, logistics and institutional knowledge. He emphasised that deeper military-civil integration would improve decision-making while preserving institutional memory and ensuring the effective implementation of rules and procedures.

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Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Singh advocated structured cross-exposure between civilian and military officers through joint training programmes and developmental assignments. He said military officers contribute operational and command experience, while civilian officers bring administrative continuity, policy expertise and an understanding of government processes, creating a more balanced and effective decision-making framework when these strengths are combined.

Using cyber warfare as an example, Singh said civilian officers with specialised expertise could contribute by developing defence-specific cyber tools to strengthen the Armed Forces' capabilities. He urged the AFHQ Civilian Services to evolve into the "strategic brain" of India's defence management system by developing a comprehensive understanding of the country's defence requirements and emerging technologies.

During the event, the Defence Minister also launched several digital initiatives of the office of the Joint Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer (JS & CAO), unveiled its revised Vision and Mission Statement, and released the 34th edition of the Samvad magazine. He also presented awards to AFHQ personnel for achievements in areas including sports and honoured children of employees who excelled academically.

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