Dr Mayank Sharma IDAS (1989) has assumed the office of Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) today. He is a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) and has had a distinguished career in the government spanning more than three decades.
Dr Mayank Sharma has served in various capacities within the Government of India, including the Defence Accounts Department. He has also held key positions in the Cabinet Secretariat and represented India as the Alternate Permanent Representative at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
Additionally, the IDAS officer has represented India at the International Anti-Corruption Academy and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. As the Head of the Consular Division at the Indian Embassy in Vienna, he was responsible for all consular affairs and handled high-level Indian delegations at UNODC.
The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and is headed by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). It is responsible for audit, financial advisory, payment, and accounting services for the Indian Armed Forces and affiliated organizations.
DAD manages financial matters related to pay, pensions, allowances, supplies, services, construction, and repairs for personnel and establishments under the Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Ordnance Factories, Defence Estates, and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The department also audits cash and store accounts of these organizations, oversees manufacturing accounts of Ordnance Factories and Naval Dockyards, and ensures compliance with financial regulations. To enhance efficiency, Integrated Financial Advisers (IFAs) are deployed at various Command Headquarters to provide financial guidance.
The department has an extensive presence with 1,110 offices across India, ensuring comprehensive financial oversight and prompt services to all defence establishments. DAD’s field offices are strategically located near Army Commands, Area Headquarters, and military units to ensure effective financial management. For seamless operations, 12 Principal Controllers (PCDA) and Controllers (CDA) oversee Army-related financial affairs, including a dedicated PCDA at Pune handling commissioned officers’ pay and allowances. Additionally, a PCDA in New Delhi manages pay and allowances for civilian employees of the Service Headquarters and MoD, including foreign contract payments. A specialized PCDA (Pensions) at Prayagraj administers pension disbursement and revisions for retired defence personnel and civilians.
In addition to handling core military finances, 14 PCDAs/CDAs oversee accounts for the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, DRDO, Border Roads, and Canteen Stores Department (CSD). Ordnance Factories, comprising 41 establishments, each have an attached Accounts Office, with nine Controllers of Finance and Accounts functioning under PCA (Fys) for financial oversight. Moreover, 127 PIFA/IFA offices are dedicated to offering financial advisory services to various defence units.
For professional development, DAD operates specialized training institutes. The National Academy of Defence Financial Management (NADFM) in Pune provides training for Group A officers, while five Regional Training Centers and CENTRAD in Delhi Cantt cater to staff training. The Defence Pension Training Institute (DPTI) at Prayagraj focuses on pension-related training, and the Officers Training Institute (OTI) at Gurugram imparts training to Group B officers.
As the Principal Accounting Officer of the MoD, the CGDA compiles Appropriation Accounts, Annual Consolidated Accounts of Defence Services, and Annual Audit Certificates, which are presented to Parliament through the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG). Recently, DAD was also assigned the audit of offset claims, executed by PCDA (Air Force), New Delhi.
With a commitment to professional, responsive, and efficient financial services, DAD ensures accurate and timely payments, proper budget allocation, and cost-effective financial management. As a trusted financial partner of the defence establishment, it upholds transparency and accountability in managing the nation’s defence resources.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Dr Mayank Sharma the very best.
