Cantonments are areas that include both military and civilian populations. The Cantonment Board is one of the civil administration bodies in India under the control of the ............"

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Ministry of Defence

Explanation:

. Cantonment Boards in India function under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

. They are deemed municipalities under Article 243P(e) of the Constitution for the purpose of receiving grants and implementing central schemes.

. These boards are responsible for providing civic administration and amenities to the population (both military and civilian) residing within the cantonment area.

. The governance of these boards is regulated by the Cantonments Act, 2006 (which replaced the Cantonments Act, 1924).

. There are currently 61 Cantonment Boards in India (following the recent dissolution of Khas Yol).

Information Booster:

. The Station Commander of the Cantonment acts as the ex-officio President of the Cantonment Board.

. An officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) is appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board.

. The Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), headquartered in New Delhi, functions as the apex body overseeing these boards.

Additional Knowledge:

(b) President of India

. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces but does not directly administer the daily functioning of Cantonment Boards.

(c) Ministry of Human Resource Development

. Now known as the Ministry of Education, it deals with literacy and education policies, not civic administration of defence lands.

(d) Ministry of Home Affairs

. This ministry is responsible for internal security and the administration of Union Territories, but not Cantonment Boards.