Why the need for the post of Chief Defense of Staff (CDS)?

New Delhi, December 8, 2021, Wednesday

The late Bipin Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff in the year 2020. The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs were approved as the 7th Division in the Indian Ministry of Defense. From the Army's point of view, CDS is considered a very powerful position. The CDS helicopter crash in such circumstances raises many questions. CDS is a four star general officer. He serves as the Chief Military Adviser to the Minister of Defense on matters pertaining to the three wings of the Army (Army, Navy and Air).

The government created the post to coordinate between the three wings of the army. Bipin Singh Rawat was deemed fit for the post. He retired as Army Chief on 31st December 2013 and took over as CDS on 31st January 2020. No one can hold a government post after assuming the post of CDS. During the review after the 19th Kargil War, the need for coordination between the three wings was identified. The group of ministers said in its report that the damage could have been reduced if the work had been done properly. There was a lot of advocacy for the CDS post but it could not be implemented at that time due to political differences. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he implemented the appointment to this post.