New Delhi, December 24: The Centre on Tuesday approved the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The officer to be appointed as Chief of Defence Staff will be a four-star General. He will also head the Department of Military Affairs. General Bipin Rawat to be Appointed as First Chief of Defence Staff After Tenure as Army Chief Concludes: Report.

According to government sources, Armed forces will fall under the ambit of the Department of Military Affairs, which will have appropriate expertise to manage military affairs. Chief of Defence Staff will head it. The Department of Military Affairs will have an appropriate mix of civilian and military officers. Sources further shared that CDS "will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs. Narendra Modi Government Gives 'In-Principle' Approval For Creation of Chief of Defence Staff Post To Enhance Co-ordination Between Three Service Wings.

Here Are Important Things to Know About The CDS:

  • Chief of Defence Staff will also have a second role, will be the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

  • The CDS will be supported by the Integrated Defence Staff.

  • The department of military affairs under the Chief of Defence Staff will facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilization of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/ theatre commands.

  • A four-star General would hold CDS post, and he would not be eligible to hold any Government office after demitting the office of CDS.

  • He will also not hold any private employment without prior approval for a period of five years after demitting the office of CDS.

  • Chief of Defence Staff will act as Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister on tri-services matters.

  • The three Chiefs will continue to advise Defence Minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective services.

  • The Chief of Defence Staff will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs.

The creation of CDS was announced by PM Modi during an Independence Day this year. Notably, the demand to create CDS dated back to 1998, when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government came to power. The recommendation for creating the post was first made after the Kargil War. The official announcement about the name of the first CDS is likely to be made before December 31.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2019 09:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).