 Parent Agency - Integrated Defence Staff | |
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| Intelligence agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 March 2002; 23 years ago (2002-03-01) |
| Jurisdiction |  India |
| Headquarters | Cabinet Secretariat Raisina Hill,New Delhi,Delhi,India |
| Motto | Service Before Self |
| Employees | Classified |
| Annual budget | Classified |
| Minister responsible | |
| Intelligence agency executive |
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| Parent department | Integrated Defence Staff |
TheDefence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is anintelligence agency responsible for providing and coordinating defence and military intelligence to theIndian Armed Forces.[1][2] It was created in March 2002 and is administered within theMinistry of Defence.[2]
The creation of an intelligence agency coordinating the intelligence arms of the three military services had long been called for by senior Indian military officers.[2] It was formally recommended by theCabinet Group of Ministers, headed by the thenDeputy Prime Minister of India,Lal Krishna Advani. The Group of Ministers investigated intelligence lapses that occurred during theKargil War and recommended a comprehensive reform ofIndian intelligence agencies.[2][3] The Defence Intelligence Agency was created and became operational in March, 2002.[3] As part of expanding bilateral cooperation on gathering intelligence and fighting terrorism, theUnited States military also provided advice to Indian military officers on the creation of the DIA.[3]
The Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency is the head of the entire organisation. The director general is the principal advisor on intelligence to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.[2] The post of the director general will be held in rotation between the three armed services. The first Director General of the DIA was Lt. Gen.Kamal Davar, former director of the mechanised forces of theIndian Army.[2][3] The Director General of the Agency is assisted by the Deputy Director General, first held by Air MarshalS. C. Malhan.[2]
DIA is the nodal agency for all defence related intelligence, thus distinguishing it from the other Indian intelligence internal and external agencies. DIA controls theIndian Armed Forces' technical intelligence assets – the Directorate of Signals Intelligence, a tri-service agency, and the Defence Image Processing and Analysis Centre (DIPAC). While the Signals Directorate is responsible for acquiring and decrypting enemy communications, the DIPAC controls India's satellite-based image acquisition capabilities.[4]
The DIA also coordinates the Defence Information Warfare Agency (DIWA) which handles all elements of the information warfare repertoire, including psychological operations, cyber-war, electronic intercepts and the monitoring of sound waves.[5] Its operations are highly classified and has several successes to its credit which will remain a secret.[citation needed]
Before the creation of the Defence Intelligence Agency, the military intelligence capability of India's armed forces was limited to Field Intelligence Units (FIU) and separate intelligence arms of the services.[2] These distinct services were not able to effectively coordinate intelligence operations and sharing of information.[3] The armed forces also heavily relied on civilian intelligence agencies such as theResearch and Analysis Wing and theIntelligence Bureau.[2] With wide-ranging resources and functions, the DIA will be superior to and coordinated with theDirectorate of Military Intelligence,Directorate of Air Intelligence and theDirectorate of Naval Intelligence.[3]
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