Careers in DAD
Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
Group A Central Service under the Ministry of Defence. Recruited through UPSC Civil Services Examination.
What is IDAS
The Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) is a Group A Central Civil Service. Officers of IDAS serve in the Defence Accounts Department (DAD), which is responsible for financial management, audit, and payment functions for India's armed forces.
DAD was established in 1748. It currently manages the defence budget of the Government of India, processes pay and allowances for defence personnel, administers defence pensions, and provides integrated financial advice to the armed forces through the IFA system.
The head of the service is the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), who reports to the Ministry of Defence.
How to Join IDAS
Route 1 — UPSC Civil Services Examination
- IDAS is allocated through the annual UPSC CSE (Prelims → Mains → Interview).
- Any graduate from a recognised university can appear. No specific subject requirement.
- Age: 21–32 years (general category). Relaxation for OBC/SC/ST/PwD as per government rules.
- Allocation is based on rank in the CSE merit list and service preference indicated by the candidate.
Route 2 — Promotion from Group B
- Senior Accounts Officers (SAO) at Group B level are eligible for promotion to IDAS through the departmental promotion process.
Training
| Phase | Institution | Duration | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | LBSNAA, Mussoorie | ~4 months | Common foundation course with IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A probationers. Covers Constitution, governance, administration. |
| Induction | NADFM, Pune | Specialised training | Defence finance, pay regulations, capital procurement, audit. NADFM is the apex training institution for DAD. |
| Professional | NIFM, Faridabad | Financial management | Public finance management, accounting standards, budget and expenditure management. |
| On-the-job | Field posting | Supervised | Posting to a CDA office under supervision. Departmental examination on completion. Confirmation into Junior Time Scale after passing. |
Functions of IDAS Officers
- Financial advice — Integrated Financial Advisers (IFA) are embedded in Army Commands, Naval Commands, Air Force Commands, BRO, and DRDO to provide financial concurrence on procurement and expenditure.
- Audit — Internal audit of defence expenditure across all services.
- Pay and accounts — Processing pay, allowances, and claims for defence personnel and civilians.
- Pension — Administration of defence pensions through SPARSH and PCDA (Pensions).
- Policy — At senior levels, involvement in defence finance policy, budget preparation, and financial planning.
Where IDAS Officers Serve
IDAS officers are posted across the following organisations:
- Indian Army — Command headquarters, Corps HQ, and PAO offices at cantonments across India
- Indian Navy — PCDA (Navy) Mumbai, Western and Eastern Naval Commands
- Indian Air Force — PCDA (AF) Delhi, air station accounts offices
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO / GREF)
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Ordnance factories and defence production units
- Coast Guard
- CGDA Headquarters, New Delhi
Officers are also deputed to Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, state governments, and other government bodies. IDAS officers have served in UN peacekeeping missions.
Other Careers in DAD
| Post | Group | Entry Route |
|---|---|---|
| Auditor | Group C | SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination |
| Lower Division Clerk | Group C | SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination |
| Multi-Tasking Staff | Group C | SSC MTS Examination |
| Section Officer (Accounts/Audit) | Group B | Departmental — SAS Examination (promotion from Auditor grade) |
| Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) | Group B | Departmental promotion |
| Young Professionals | Contract | Direct engagement for IT, finance, and policy projects |