DIRECTORATE GENERAL DEFENCE ESTATES

Directorate General, Defence Estates  (DGDE) is the  Headquarters of the Indian  Defence Estates Service. DGDE provides advisory inputs on all  Cantonments and Land matters to the Ministry of Defence and Service Headquarters ie Army, Navy,  Air Force  and other organizations under Ministry of Defence.  Acquisition of lands,  Resettlement and Rehabilitation of displaced persons, Hiring and requisitioning of lands and buildings, are some of the responsibilities of DGDE. It also ensures implementation of Cantonments Act 2006, Policies, Rules & Regulations and Executive instructions. 

DGDE has under its jurisdiction six Principal Directorates namely, Principal Directors, Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern,  South-western  and Western Command. Under the Principal Directorates there are 37 Defence Estates Offices and 4 ADEO Circles for management of defence lands in the country.

There are 62 Cantonment Boards.  These are local bodies  responsible for providing civic administration and implementing the Central Govt schemes of social welfare, public health, hygiene, safety, water supply, sanitation, urban renewal and education.    

Organisational structure of DGDE Headquarters is here.

Vision

To manage defence land effectively and efficiently and provide an efficient, effective, transparent and honest civic and development  oriented administration in Cantonments. To make the Indian Defence Estates Service an institution of Excellence.

Mission

Land being a scarce and precious national resource and Cantonments becoming part of urban agglomeration, Defence Estates Department would strive  to achieve the following:

  • Transform Cantonments into model local bodies for improving quality of life of its residents through:
  1. People friendly administration
  2. Effective delivery systems
  3. Transparent and result-oriented governance
  4. Zero tolerance to corruption and mal-practices
  5. Making adequate provisions for health and education services  including vocational training
  6. Caring for senior citizens and the disadvantaged
  • Protect environment and heritage
  • Make optimum utilization of land resources
  • Protection and maintenance of defence lands and land records
  • Manage defence land effectively and provide help to stake-holders in land management
  • Prompt problem resolution
  • Be effective advisers to Government
  • Leverage technology including e-governance in all aspects of administration and land management