The Union government is reassessing the concept of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) leading to a delay in the appointment to the post.

The post of CDS has also been lying vacant since the demise of Late. Gen. Bipin Rawat.

Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

• The CDS is a high military office that oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services, and offers seamless tri-service views and single-point advice to the Executive.
• On long-term it provides for defence planning and management, including manpower, equipment and strategy, and above all, “joint manship” in operations.
• In most democracies, the CDS is seen as being above inter-Service rivalries and the immediate operational preoccupations of the individual military chiefs.
• The role of the CDS becomes critical in times of conflict.

Duties and Functions of the CDS

The Ministry of Defence has outlined various functions and duties for the post of CDS:

• To head the Department of Military Affairs in Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
• To act as the Principal Military Advisor to Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Service matters.
• To function as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
• To administer the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
• To be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri.
• To function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
• To bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services.
• To implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans, as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan.
• To bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services with the aim to augment combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.

Why need CDS?

• Tri-services coordination: The creation of the CDS will eventually lead to the formation of tri-service theatre commands intended to create vertical integration of the three forces.
• Single-point military advisory: The CDS will be a single-point military adviser to the government and synergise long term planning, procurements, training and logistics of the three Services.
• Efforts saving: This is expected to save money by avoiding duplication between the Services, at a time of shrinking capital expenditure within the defence budget.
• Military diplomacy: This is today supporting conventional diplomacy. That can’t be done by different Services.

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