New rule for selection of Chief of Defence Staff

Why in news?

• The government has tweaked the Army, IAF and Navy rules to widen the “pool of selection” for the chief of defence staff (CDS) post.

What are the new rule changes for the selection of CDS?

• The three chiefs (Army, Navy and Air force) serve till the age of 62 or for three years, whichever is earlier, while the CDS can go up to 65.
• The gazette notification amending the Army Rules 1954 said that the Central Government may consider “an officer who is serving as Lt General or General or an officer who has retired in the rank of Lt General or General but has not attained the age of 62 on the date of his appointment” for the post of CDS.
• Similar amendments were carried out in the Air Force and Navy Acts.
• Apart from the present Army, IAF and Navy chiefs who are four-star Generals, the rule change made the serving or retired three-star military officers will now be considered for the chief of defence staff (CDS) post.

About Chief of Defence Staff:

• The Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) is the military head and chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The Chief of Defence Staff is the senior-most and highest-ranking uniformed officer on active duty in the Indian military, and is the principal staff officer and chief military adviser to the Minister of Defence.
• The Chief also heads the Department of Military Affairs.
• The first Chief of Defence Staff was Bipin Rawat who took office in January 2020 and held it until his death in December 2021
• The CDS is a four-star officer selected from among the serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces.
• While being "first among equals" among the service chiefs, the CDS is a single-point military advisor to the defence minister.
• Establishment of a CDS is a step in the direction of fulfilling the long-pending reform in the Indian armed forces. It was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee in 2001 and reiterated by the Naresh Chandra committee in 2012.

Purpose:

• The position of the Chief of Defence Staff was created with the aim of improving coordination, tri-service effectiveness and overall integration of the combat capabilities of the Indian armed forces.
• The Defence Secretary, a civil servant, remains as the main defence adviser, whilst the chief has the role of the main military adviser.

Functions:

• Implementing weapons procurement procedures.
• Integrating operations of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
• Bring about jointness and ensure optimal utilisation of infrastructure in the three Services.
• Authority to create theatre commands as and when needed.
• Command tri-service agencies, organisations, and commands including those related to cyber and space.
• CDS will be a member of Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee
• Function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
• Bring about reforms in the functioning of three services aimed at augmenting combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
• Assign inter-services prioritisation to capital acquisition proposals.

Add ons:

• The CDS's salary and perquisites will be same as the service chiefs.
• The CDS will come under the Right to Information Act.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)?

1. CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs

2. CDS will be a member of Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer