Defence Intelligence Agency (India)

2021-06-22T19:53:20Z

2401:4900:3309:FFA8:1:1:56FE:20EC:

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Defence Intelligence Agency
|abbreviation

|type = [[Intelligence Agency|Agency]]
|motto = Service Before Self
|logo = Defence_Intelligence_Agency_(India)_Logo.png
|logo_width =
|logo_caption =
|seal =
|seal_width =
|seal_caption =
|formed = {{Start date and age|2002|03|1|df=y}}
|preceding1 =
|jurisdiction = {{flag|India}}
|headquarters = [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]]<br /> [[Raisina Hill]], [[New Delhi]]
|employees = [[Classified information|Classified]]
|budget = [[Classified information|Classified]]
| minister1_name = [[Rajnath Singh]]
| minister1_pfo = [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]
|chief1_name = [[Lieutenant general|Lt. Gen.]] [[Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon|KJS Dhillon]]
|chief1_position = [[Director General]]
|chief2_name =
|chief2_position =
|parent_department =Intelligence branch of Integrated Defense Staff in [[Department of Military Affairs]]
|child1_agency =
|website =
}}

The '''Defence Intelligence Agency''' ('''D.I.A''') is an [[Intelligence agency]] responsible for providing
and coordinating defence & [[military intelligence]] to [[Indian armed forces]].<ref name="MOD">{{cite web|title=Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India|url=http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/body.htm|publisher=National Informatics Centre|access-date=2009-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713064303/http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/body.htm|archive-date=2009-07-13|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="FAS">{{cite web|title=Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/india/dia.htm|publisher=Global Security.org|access-date=2009-07-14}}</ref>

It was created in March 2002 and is administered within the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name="FAS"/>

==History==
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.<ref name="FAS"/> It was formally recommended by the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of India|Cabinet Group of Ministers]], headed by the then [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]] [[Lal Krishna Advani]]. The Group of Ministers investigated intelligence lapses that occurred during the [[Kargil War]] and recommended a comprehensive reform of [[List of Indian Intelligence agencies|Indian intelligence agencies]].<ref name="FAS"/><ref name="A">{{cite web|title=Defense Intelligence Agency to Start in February 2002|url=https://fas.org/irp/world/india/mod/dia.htm|publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]]|date=2002-01-30|access-date=2009-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326002603/https://fas.org/irp/world/india/mod/dia.htm|archive-date=26 March 2009}}</ref> The Defence Intelligence Agency was created and became operational in March, 2002.<ref name="A"/> As part of expanding bilateral cooperation on gathering intelligence and fighting terrorism, the [[United States military]] also provided advice to Indian military officers on the creation of the DIA.<ref name="A"/>

==Organisation==
===Director General===
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.<ref name="FAS"/> 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 the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="FAS"/><ref name="A"/> The Director General of the Agency is assisted by the Deputy Director General, held first by Air Marshal [[S. C. Malhan]].<ref name="FAS"/>

===Nodal agency===
DIA is the nodal agency for all defence related intelligence, thus distinguishing it from the other Indian intelligence internal and external agencies. DIA controls the [[Indian armed forces|Indian 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/11/09/tech-a-risk.html|title=Tech, a risk|last=Sagar|first=Pradip R|date=9 November 2019|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://idsa.in/jds/2_2_2008_IntegratingtheIndianMilitary_VAnand|title=Integrating the Indian Military:Retrospect and Prospect {{!}} Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|last=Anand|first=Vinod|date=2008|website=idsa.in|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref> Its operations are highly classified and has several successes to its credit which will remain a secret.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

==Functions==
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.<ref name="FAS"/> These distinct services were not able to effectively coordinate intelligence operations and sharing of information.<ref name="A"/> The armed forces also heavily relied on civilian intelligence agencies such as the [[Research and Analysis Wing]] and the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]].<ref name="FAS"/> With wide-ranging resources and functions, the DIA will be superior to and coordinate the [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)|Directorate of Military Intelligence]], [[Directorate of Air Intelligence (India)|Directorate of Air Intelligence]] and the [[Directorate of Naval Intelligence (India)|Directorate of Naval Intelligence.]]<ref name="A"/>

==See also==
* [[List of Indian intelligence agencies]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian intelligence agencies}}
{{National intelligence agencies}}
{{Military of India}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:2002 establishments in Delhi]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2002]]
[[Category:Defence agencies of India]]
[[Category:Indian intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Military of India]]
[[Category:Military intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Joint military units and formations of India]]

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Defence Intelligence Agency (India)