India to get its first Chief of Defence Staff, here's all you need to know

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday approved the creation of a chief of defence staff (CDS), who will be the single-point military adviser to the government of India. Here is all you need to know about the post.

New Delhi:The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and its charter and duties. The CDS will be a 4-star general who will head the new Department of Military Affairs.

"He will be drawing a salary equivalent to service chiefs, and will head the Department of Military Affairs to be created under the Ministry of Defence. He will function as its Secretary," Minister Prakash Javadekar said at the cabinet briefing.

According to reports, the government is expected to name the first Chief of Defence Staff within a day or two. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet will consider the names of the panel of military officers for the post. Army chief General Bipin Rawat is believed to be the front-runner for the post.

THE NEED FOR CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a post that will act as the single-point adviser to the Government of India. The officer concerned will be in a position to advise on matters related to all the three services -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- thus making India's armed forces integrated. The Chief of Defence Staff will be a 'first among equals', a fourth four-star officer who will be senior to the three other service chiefs.

Read: Cabinet Committee on Security clears Chief of Defence Staff post

"The case for a CDS has been built around the argument that it is necessary to have a professional body of the highest standing to facilitate 'jointmanship' and render single-point military advice to the government on matters of national security," former Army Chief NC Vij had said.

The responsibilities of the CDS

EARLIER PROPOSALS FOR CDS

The recommendation for creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was first made after the 1999 Kargil War. A high-level committee that was set up to examine the gaps in the country's security system had said this person, a five-star military officer, should be the single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister.

Read: CDS is major step towards bringing about jointmanship between Armed Forces: Rajnath Singh

Besides the high-level committee on Kargil War, a group of ministers that was formed in 2001 to explore necessary reforms required to improve India's national security had also favoured creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff.

Some other countries where the same post exists