End of an Era on Raisina Hill: Army, Navy Chiefs to vacate historic South Block by November end
New Delhi: South Block on Raisina Hill is preparing for a major change. After decades of housing India’s top military leadership, the historic building will soon no longer have offices belonging to the armed forces.
The relocation is expected to be completed by the end of November as the army and navy headquarters are shifting to newer facilities in Delhi Cantonment as part of a wider effort to bring defence establishments together and provide them with modern infrastructure.
For generations of military officers, South Block has been more than an office. It has been where senior commanders handled crises, reviewed operational plans and held discussions on some of India’s most important defence matters.
From wars to Operation Sindoor
Designed by Herbert Baker as part of the imperial secretariat complex, South Block was originally built during British rule. After Independence, it became a key centre of government and military decision-making.
The building was closely associated with India’s response to major conflicts, including the 1947-48 Kashmir war, the 1962 war with China, the 1965 and 1971 wars and the Kargil conflict in 1999. More recently, senior officials also held important deliberations there during Operation Sindoor.
By November-end, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, the Vice Chief and seven principal staff officers are scheduled to shift to Shaurya Bhawan in Delhi Cantonment. The Directorate General of Military Operations and the Army’s war room are also moving out.
Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and other senior naval officers are being relocated as part of the same exercise. The Navy has already started moving offices to Nausena Bhavan, with the process beginning in 2024.
Why military is leaving South Block
The relocation is not simply about moving into newer buildings. The defence establishment has long operated from multiple locations, including Sena Bhawan, RK Puram and Shankar Vihar as well as older structures.
The new defence infrastructure is intended to make coordination easier and provide secure digital networks, modern communication facilities and integrated workspaces. The civilian Ministry of Defence has already left South Block. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his secretariat shifted in April and are currently operating from Kartavya Bhavan-2.
South Block itself is also set for a new chapter. The Union Cabinet has approved Rs 3,230 crore for converting the North and South Blocks into the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum with the project planned in phases up to 2030-31.
The move will end an era for military officers and defence journalists who have spent years working around the building. The sandstone landmark will remain on Raisina Hill but its role as a daily workplace for India’s armed forces is set to become part of history.