India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to be announced next month along with the appointment of the next army chief to replace Gen Bipin Rawat, who is retiring on December 31. The CDS will have the powers to direct the three service chiefs and create new theatre commands for optimal military response in case of hostilities.
The implementation committee appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and headed by national security adviser Ajit Doval is still to define the charter for the CDS. Sources claim the new CDS will be a single-point military adviser to the government, as suggested by the K Subrahmanyam-led Kargil Review Committee. Read more
