Functions Of Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS)

The Government has appointed Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The recommendation for creating the post of CDS was first made after the 1999 Kargil War by committee of defence experts headed by K Subrahmanyam. In January 2020, General Bipin Rawat was appointed as India's first CDS.

Functions Of Chief Of Defence Staff

The duties and responsibilities of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) include the following functions:

• CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs in Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
• He functions as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
• He acts as the Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all three service matters of India.
• CDS administers the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
• He acts as a member of Defence Acquisition Council. This council is chaired by Defence minister.
• He functions as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
• To bring about jointness in operation, transport, training, logistics, support services, communications, etc. of the three Services.
• He ensures optimal utilisation of infrastructure and rationalise it through jointness among the three Services.
• He is responsible for bringing about reforms in the functioning of the three Services with the aim to increase capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
• He implements Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans, as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan.

Things You Should Know About CDS

• As CDS, Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) will have the same salary and perquisites as the three service chiefs, who are also four-star Generals.
• Along with heading the department of military affairs, he will also hold the charge of permanent chairman, chiefs of staff committee (CoSC).
• The principal aim for the CDS is to integrate the armed forces into the government edifice to enable them to participate fully in decision-making.
• The creation of a CDS was recommended almost two decades ago by the Kargil Review Committee (KRC) in February 2000. This committee was headed by K Subrahmanyam. He recommended the appointment of a CDS as a means to provide single-point professional military advice to the political leadership.

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