ORGANISATIONAL HISTORY OF THE HISTORY DIVISION, MoD

1. History Division, Ministry of Defence is an Inter-Services organisation set up in 1953, to function as record, research and reference office of the MoD, the three Services HQs. In addition to the administrative works, it is entrusted with the responsibilities of maintaining historical records pertaining to the Indian armed forces and undertaking research in military history and military heraldry. In addition, it attends all queries relating to the defence matter from the MoD, armed forces, HQs, Coast Guard HQs and research scholars. The Division advises the MoD and the three Services HQs in all the matters related to heraldry i.e. naming of establishments and ships, preparation of crests and formation signs, and badges, coining of mottoes, etc. Division also maintains a library housing more than 8000 unique books on military history. The Division has published 46 volumes so far. The Division also runs a Fellowship scheme to encourage research in military history. The History Division works under Joint Secretary (Medical & History) in the Ministry of Defence.

2. The charter of duties of the Division includes the following:-
i. To serve as the research, record and reference office to the Indian Armed Forces. It preserves and maintains war diaries/operational records and other military documents received from various formations and units of the Indian Armed Forces. These documents are eventually used for writing the official histories of operations conducted by the Indian Armed Forces and for answering queries pertaining to military history received from the three Services, Ministry of Defence, other Departments/Offices, research scholars, etc.
ii. To write histories of the wars fought by the Indian Armed Forces. These include the Peace-keeping Operations conducted by the Indian Armed Forces in various countries from time to time.
iii. To guide and assist the Army Regiments and Air Force Squadrons in compiling the histories & vet their histories before publication.
iv. To assist the Ministry of Defence and the three Services Headquarters with military historical data.
v. To assist the Services Headquarters in the battle honours works.
vi. To advise the three Services, Coast Guard Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence in all matters relating to military heraldry, such as naming of new establishments and acquisitions, designing of crests and badges and coining of mottoes.
vii. The Departmental Library houses more than eight thousand titles, including books, periodicals and foreign publications of military importance.
viii. To vet the scripts of feature films related to wars/operations conducted by the Indian Armed Forces. These scripts are received through agencies like Military Intelligence, MoD, Film Censor Board, etc.
ix. To facilitate the assistance of Air HQs to the Film Production Houses engaged in making movies, documentaries, serials, etc., on matters related to IAF, and also seeking clearance of the Ministry for the release.
x. Assisting the regiments and formations in planning and setting up memorials and museums.
xi. Monitor declassification of classified records by Records Creating Agencies from time to time in tune with Public Records Act 1993, Public Records Rules 1997 and GoI Policy on Archiving, Declassification and Compilation/Publication of War Histories, 2021.
xii. Getting the declassified records appraised for transfer to National Archives of India
xiii. Award fellowships to promote research in Indian military history.
xiv. Deals with RTIs related to Indian Armed Forces.
xv. Deals with Parliamentary questions related to Indian Armed Forces.
xvi. Deals with court cases.

3. For further information regarding the History Division, Dr. Amlesh Kumar Mishra, Director may kindly be contacted. Address:- History Division, Ministry of Defence, West Block-8, Wing-1, RK Puram, New Delhi-110066. Ph./Fax 011-26102067, E-mail ID:- histdiv-mod@nic.in.

4. Organisation Chart

5. Who's Who

6. List of Publications, History Division, MoD

7. Format - Request for consulting records

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Category of Documents held

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Designation & Pay Level

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Details of RTI Purpose

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Receipt & Disposal of RTI applications

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