DAD to mark 279th Annual Day with new defence finance IT initiatives
New Delhi, Sep 30. The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) will mark its 279th Annual Day on October 1 with the launch of a series of information technology initiatives aimed at strengthening financial management and payment systems within the Ministry of Defence.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the annual day celebrations at Dr DS Kothari Auditorium at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi and launch the new initiatives.
Among the key initiatives to be unveiled is the integration of the Indian Army Financial Information System (IAFIS) with DAD’s SAKSHAM platform. The department will also introduce a revamped National Compilation System (NCS) for the Ministry of Defence and the Payment Routing and Integrated System Management (PRISM) platform to facilitate Treasury-Single Account payments in the ministry.
The initiatives are intended to further strengthen the department’s digital financial architecture and streamline financial and payment-related processes for the Defence Ministry and the armed forces.
Singh will also release a set of publications, including the Comprehensive Statistical Handbook on Defence Expenditure (COSHE) 2026, Raksha Lekha Bharati, DAD’s in-house Hindi magazine, and the Market Intelligence Report 2025-26.
A short film highlighting SPARSH (System for Pension Administration – Raksha), the Defence Ministry’s flagship digital pension system, will also be released during the celebrations.
The occasion will additionally see the presentation of the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2026 to officers and staff of DAD for their exemplary performance and contribution to the implementation of key initiatives of the Defence Ministry and the department.
The Defence Accounts Department traces its origins to 1747, when the post of Military Pay Master was established. Since then, the department has evolved in response to the changing requirements of the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.
DAD provides a range of financial services to the defence establishment, including internal audit, accounting, financial advice and management of defence pensions. Its role has expanded over the years with the adoption of technology-driven systems for financial administration and pension delivery.
