The Army and Navy chiefs are preparing to move out of South Block in a major relocation of India’s military leadership, ending a long-standing arrangement under which the two service chiefs and their senior officers operated from the iconic government building in New Delhi.
Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and seven Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) are expected to shift to the newly constructed Shaurya Bhavan in Delhi Cantonment by the end of November.
The Navy leadership, including Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the Vice Chief and Principal Staff Officers, is also expected to move out of South Block as part of the relocation.
The move marks another significant phase in the restructuring of the Defence Ministry’s administrative and military establishments, with several key offices being shifted to newly developed government complexes.
ARMY WAR ROOM, DGMO OFFICE TO SHIFT
The relocation will also cover important operational establishments. The Army War Room and the office of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) are among the facilities set to move out of South Block.
However, the future location of the Navy War Room remains unclear. Its relocation presents a more complex challenge because of its requirement for extensive infrastructure, secure communication systems and advanced technology.
The Navy had already moved into Nausena Bhavan in Delhi Cantonment in 2024. The latest shift is expected to bring its senior leadership out of South Block as well.
DEFENCE MINISTRY’S SHIFT TO NEW GOVERNMENT COMPLEXES
The Defence Ministry has temporarily moved to Kartavya Bhavan II, with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) currently being the only senior military leadership position based there.
With the Army Chief expected to move to Shaurya Bhavan, General Seth will have to travel to Kartavya Bhavan II for meetings with the Defence Minister and senior government officials.
Once the next set of buildings is completed, the Defence Ministry will move to Kartavya Bhavan 6 and 7. These buildings will also accommodate additional offices of the service chiefs.
Officers working under the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), including the Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DG DIA), are also expected to move out of South Block.
RELOCATION BEGAN WITH DEFENCE MINISTER’S SHIFT
The first phase of the historic relocation took place in April, when the Defence Minister and his secretariat moved to Kartavya Bhavan II.
This was followed by the phased relocation of other Defence Ministry offices, including service public relations officers (PROs) and associated branches.
The upcoming movement of the Army and Navy leadership will mark the end of the decades-old arrangement of having the two service headquarters operate from South Block, as the government continues to reorganise its administrative and defence establishments.
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