IA&AS Officer Pawan Kumar Appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Defence
In a recent administrative move, the Government of India has appointed Pawan Kumar, a 2014-batch officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), to the position of Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Defence. His appointment has been made under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), which enables officers from various Central Civil Services to serve in key policy and administrative roles within central ministries.
Background of the Appointment
According to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Pawan Kumar’s selection for the post was based on his demonstrated record of service in public financial management, internal audit, and governance reforms.
The appointment forms part of the government’s ongoing initiative to infuse specialized financial expertise and accountability mechanisms into critical ministries dealing with national security and defence infrastructure.
Professional Background of Pawan Kumar
Pawan Kumar belongs to the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) — a premier Group ‘A’ service under the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. Officers of this cadre are entrusted with ensuring transparency, efficiency, and integrity in public expenditure across ministries and autonomous bodies.
Since joining the service in 2014, Mr. Kumar has held a range of audit and financial management positions, including roles related to defence accounts, performance audits of infrastructure projects, and compliance audits of major public-sector undertakings.
His professional portfolio includes extensive exposure to budgetary control systems, financial reporting, and project expenditure evaluation — skills that are vital in the context of the Defence Ministry’s complex administrative and procurement structure.
Role and Responsibilities in the Ministry of Defence
As Deputy Secretary, Pawan Kumar will assist in overseeing key policy and operational areas within the Ministry of Defence. His primary responsibilities will likely encompass:
Financial oversight of defence allocations, expenditure tracking, and audit coordination.
Policy support to higher officials in decision-making on modernization projects, procurement, and capital investment.
Inter-departmental coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Defence Accounts Department, and the CAG’s office to ensure fiscal prudence and compliance.
Implementation monitoring of ongoing defence reforms, especially in procurement transparency and expenditure efficiency.
Given his professional background, Pawan Kumar is expected to play a significant role in strengthening financial governance and ensuring efficient utilization of public resources in India’s defence establishment.
About the Central Staffing Scheme
The Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) serves as an important administrative framework that enables officers from diverse services — including IA&AS, IDAS, IRS, and IES — to serve in central ministries and contribute their subject-matter expertise to policy formulation and national governance.
Officers appointed under this scheme typically serve tenures ranging from three to five years, during which they bring their specialized knowledge to bear on policymaking, program implementation, and inter-ministerial coordination.
Significance of the Posting
Pawan Kumar’s induction into the Ministry of Defence comes at a time when the government is prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and modernization in defence expenditure.
His appointment is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the ministry’s financial oversight capacity, particularly as defence budgets expand to accommodate new acquisition programs, indigenization efforts under Atmanirbhar Bharat, and enhanced cybersecurity and logistics initiatives.
With this new assignment, Pawan Kumar (IA&AS: 2014) is set to contribute his financial and audit expertise to one of India’s most critical ministries. His background in public financial accountability and audit-driven governance positions him well to support the Defence Ministry’s objectives of efficiency, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.
The appointment underscores the government’s ongoing effort to bring technical competence and inter-service collaboration into national-level policymaking — reinforcing the institutional framework of India’s defence administration.
