Controller General of Defence Accounts: Smt Alka Nangia Arora has now taken over as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on August 1, 2026. She is a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). With more than 30 years of work behind her, she brings deep experience in defence finance, public service, and government work. Her new role is expected to help make defence financial work.
The CGDA is a very important office under the Ministry of Defence. It handles financial advice, payment work, accounting, pension matters, and other money-related systems for the defence setup. In simple words, this office helps keep defence spending organized and properly managed.
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Her Education and Early Career
Smt Arora studied at Garhwal University in Dehradun and later at IIT Roorkee. She also received advanced executive training from IIM Bangalore and ISB Mohali. Before becoming CGDA, she worked as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.
She also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of MSME, Managing Director of Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Limited, and Additional Development Commissioner for Handicrafts in the Ministry of Textiles. These jobs gave her wide experience in policy, procurement, and financial management.
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Defence Finance Background
Smt Arora began her career at the Dum Dum Ordnance Factory in Kolkata. After that, she worked in many defence finance posts across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. She served as Financial Adviser to the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Financial Adviser to Army Eastern Command, Integrated Financial Adviser to Western Air Command and Army Hospital Research & Referral, and Principal Integrated Financial Adviser to Air Headquarters. She also held the post of Additional and Special CGDA at the CGDA headquarters.
