In a landmark decision with tremendous reform in higher defence management in the country, the Government has created the post of Chief of Defence Staff. General Bipin Rawat became the first CDS of India.
It is the post of combined head of Army, Navy and Airforce. CDS will be in the rank of a four-star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief. The maximum age limit for CDS is 65 years.
He will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
CDS will also be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. He will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister (DM) on all tri-Services matters. The three Chiefs will continue to advise DM on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services.
He will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.
As the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, CDS will perform the following functions:
Will administer tri-services organisations. Tri-service agencies/organisations/commands related to Cyber and Space will be under the command of the CDS.
Will be member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister and Defence Planning Committee chaired by NSA.
Function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.
Bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services, within three years of the first CDS assuming office.
Ensure optimal utilisation of infrastructure and rationalise it through jointness among the services.
Implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan (DCAP), and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans (AAP), as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP).
Assign inter-Services prioritisation to capital acquisition proposals based on the anticipated budget.
Bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services aimed at augmenting combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
