New Delhi/Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on July 29, 2026, marking the establishment of India’s first dedicated academic and operational department exclusively focused on military medicine.
Established under the aegis of the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), the new department aims to enhance combat medical readiness, promote research, develop indigenous military medical doctrines, and build specialised expertise for future battlefields and humanitarian emergencies. The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen the operational medical preparedness of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Rajnath Singh said that while economic and social development are essential for nation-building, the foundation of a nation’s sovereignty and progress lies in the strength and morale of its Armed Forces. He expressed confidence that the new department would reinforce national security by ensuring advanced medical support for soldiers and boosting their confidence that they will receive the best possible care during operations.
The Department of Military Medicine will focus on several specialised domains, including Military Trauma and Damage Control, Combat Psychiatry and Resilience, Environmental and Operational Medicine, Military Medical Logistics, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNe) Medical Response, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), as well as Research, Audit and Data Analytics. It will also promote innovation in technology-enabled battlefield medicine, simulation-based training, telemedicine, prolonged field care, and medical decision support systems.
The department will be developed in phases. The first phase will focus on establishing academic programmes, followed by the creation of Centres of Excellence in HADR and CBRNe Medicine, with the long-term objective of evolving into a globally recognised centre for military medicine.
Highlighting the growing significance of military medicine, Rajnath Singh said that just as aerospace medicine addresses the challenges faced by pilots and astronauts, military medicine studies the physical and psychological stresses experienced by soldiers during war and conflict situations. He noted that Indian troops are deployed in some of the world’s most difficult terrains and harshest climatic conditions, requiring medical protocols specifically designed for such operational environments.
The Defence Minister also stressed that the continuing threat posed by weapons of mass destruction makes specialised medical preparedness indispensable. He said the new department would serve as a hub for research and innovation to help the country address emerging challenges arising from rapidly evolving technologies and modern warfare.
Referring to India’s role as one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions and its leadership in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, Rajnath Singh said the department would enhance the Armed Forces’ expertise in disaster response, field hospital deployment, mass casualty management, and epidemic control.
The newly established institution has been conceived as the principal academic, research and doctrinal centre for the Armed Forces Medical Services. It will provide structured education and specialised training in military and operational medicine, facilitate postgraduate programmes in combat medicine, combat surgery, and trauma care, while encouraging indigenous research aligned with India’s operational requirements.
The Defence Minister said the department would also create new career opportunities for young doctors of the Army Medical Corps, enabling them to pursue super-specialisation in military medicine and receive advanced training in battlefield nursing and trauma life support. He added that the initiative would strengthen India’s medical research capabilities and enhance the country’s global standing in military healthcare.
Underscoring the importance of preventive healthcare, Rajnath Singh described it as the first line of defence before treatment becomes necessary. He called for the development of systems capable of identifying and mitigating health risks through disease surveillance, vaccination, sanitation, nutrition, physical fitness, occupational health, and regular medical screening. He also advocated the use of artificial intelligence (AI), wearable devices, predictive analytics, and advanced diagnostics for real-time monitoring of soldiers’ health and early detection of medical risks.
Concluding his address, the Defence Minister described the establishment of the Department of Military Medicine as a transformational milestone in India’s military healthcare ecosystem and expressed hope that it would evolve into the world’s leading Battlefield Medicine Research Centre.
The event was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Adjutant General Lieutenant General V.P.S. Kaushik, Director General Medical Services (Army) and Colonel Commandant Army Medical Corps Lieutenant General C.G. Muralidharan, Additional Secretary, Department of Defence Manish Tripathi, Commandant, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow Major General Alok Bhalla, and other senior officials.
The government said the establishment of the Department of Military Medicine aligns with its vision of strengthening indigenous capabilities and enhancing the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces. It also complements the proposed Global Military Medicine Centre envisioned under the Raksha Strategy Vision 2026–30, marking another significant step in transforming the Armed Forces Medical Services into a modern, technology-driven, operationally relevant and patient-centric military healthcare system.