General Bipin Rawat to be country’s first Chief of Defence Staff

December 30: General Bipin Rawat, the current Army Chief who will retire on 31 December, has been named as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS. The defence ministry had recently amended the army, air force and navy rules by bringing in a new clause that allows the Chief of Defence Staff to serve upto a maximum age of 65 years.

According to experts countries including the US, UK, France and Germany have a CDS-like post which helps in integrating military planning and operations. The Chief of Defence Staff will be a four-star General, the principal military advisor to the defence minister, and head the new Department of Military Affairs which will ensure jointness in training, logistics and procurement of the three services.

The headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff, comprising representatives from the three services, will come under him. The Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, also known as the CISC, who heads this tri-services organisation will also come under the CDS and be renamed as the Deputy CDS. The CDS, however, will not have any operational role and military command. But, will ensure coordination in joint operations. He will also not be eligible to hold any government office after demitting as the CDS.