Ministry of Defence (India)

The Ministry of Defence (abbreviated as MoD; ISO: Rakṣā Mantrālaya) is charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the ceremonial commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the country. The Ministry of Defence provides policy framework and resources to the armed forces to discharge their responsibility in the context of the country's defence. The Indian Armed Forces (including the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy) and the Indian Coast Guard under the Ministry of Defence are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of India.

As per Statista, MoD is the largest employer in the world with 29.2 lakh (2.92 million) employees.

At present, the new creation of National Defence University, for the training of military officials and concerned civilian officials, will be administered and overseen by the Ministry. The Ministry organises and runs Republic Day celebrations and parade every year in January at Rajpath, hosting a chief guest. The Ministry has the largest budget among the federal departments of India and currently stands third in military expenditure in the world, among countries of the world.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, consisting of elected members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, is tasked with this ministry's legislative oversight.