The Defence Accounts Department will mark its 279th founding anniversary on October 1, 2026, by launching several new technology systems aimed at streamlining financial operations across India’s armed forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate these platforms at an event in New Delhi, alongside releasing official publications and honouring department staff for their work.
Key facts
- Date of celebration: October 1, 2026
- Venue: Dr. D.S. Kothari Auditorium, DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi
- Three major IT systems being launched: IAFIS-SAKSHAM integration, revamped National Compilation System, and PRISM platform
- Publications to be released: Comprehensive Statistical Handbook on Defence Expenditure (COSHE) 2026, Raksha Lekha Bharati (Hindi magazine), Market Intelligence Report 2025-2026
- Film launch: SPARSH system documentary
- Department founded: 1747 as Military Pay Master office
What the new systems do
The Defence Accounts Department is rolling out three interconnected platforms to modernise how India’s military finances are managed. The first integrates the Indian Army Financial Information System (IAFIS) with the department’s SAKSHAM platform, creating a unified system for army accounting and financial data. This connection will allow better coordination between the army’s financial records and the broader defence ministry accounts.
The second system is a revamped National Compilation System designed for the Ministry of Defence. This upgraded version will improve how the ministry collects, organises and reports financial information across all defence services.
The third platform, called PRISM (Payment Routing and Integrated System Management), will enable the Ministry of Defence to shift towards a Treasury-Single Account payment system. This centralised approach pools all government payments through a single bank account, reducing financial fragmentation and improving oversight of defence spending.
Publications and recognition
The Defence Accounts Department will release its Comprehensive Statistical Handbook on Defence Expenditure (COSHE) for 2026, providing detailed data on how defence money is spent across the ministry and armed forces. It will also publish Raksha Lekha Bharati, an in-house Hindi-language magazine, and a Market Intelligence Report covering 2025 to 2026.
A short film on SPARSH (System for Pension Administration – Raksha) will premiere at the event. SPARSH is the government’s flagship digital system for processing and managing defence pensions for retired armed forces personnel and their families.
The Defence Minister will confer the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2026 on department officers and staff recognised for outstanding performance in implementing key defence ministry projects.
Background of the Defence Accounts Department
The Defence Accounts Department traces its origins to 1747, when the British East India Company appointed a Military Pay Master to handle army finances. Since then, it has continuously adapted to serve India’s armed forces and defence ministry. Today, the department manages multiple critical functions: internal audits to check financial propriety, accounting to record all transactions, providing financial advice to decision-makers, and administering the defence pension system for retired service members.
The evolution of the department reflects broader changes in how governments manage defence spending, from manual record-keeping to today’s integrated digital platforms.
What this means for you
If you are serving in the Indian armed forces or have retired and draw a defence pension, these systems will eventually improve the speed and accuracy of your financial transactions and pension processing. Civilians working for the Ministry of Defence will find streamlined processes for financial reporting and fund management. Citizens interested in defence spending transparency will have access to better statistical data through the Comprehensive Handbook on Defence Expenditure.
The centralised payment system will also reduce the risk of financial errors and improve government auditing of defence accounts, potentially leading to better accountability in how defence resources are used.