Creation of Chief of Defence Staff

Sometimes , it could be inferred that perhaps the present dispensation was, by providence at least, destined to take such steps , innovative , progressive and bold but otherwise very much required which earlier were either kept pending indefinitely or never thought to be taken. We otherwise have belief in fatalism and remain complacent for the reason that things and events happen and take place only at fixed moment irrespective of how much of efforts were made towards making that happen as and when we wish. That being too literal and plain , the fact of the matter , however, is that the Government has added to its list of doing something new by approving the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who will also act as Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all matters relating to the three services. He would be the “First among equals” among the Service Chiefs. This was not only necessitated due to emerging defence related requirements of their being a centred authority to coordinate between the three service chiefs , joint-ness in operations etc but also to head as Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. It is , however, explicitly understood that the CDS will not be exercising any type of military command.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister NarendraModi had, on the Independence Day speech at Red Fort this year, mentioned about it. A Committee was, therefore, constituted on August 23, 2019 under the National Security Advisor along with three secretaries to dwell upon the powers of the CDS. The idea, however, was first mooted during the Kargil battle in 1999 but all these years, no tangible progress was made on it .It is only on December 24, the decision was taken by the cabinet committee on security for the coveted post to be occupied by a four star General who will lead the defence forces as well. The move was going to instil and increase joint-man-ship , tri- service effectiveness and overall combat capabilities in the country. Not only this, the Government has also decided to create a new department of military affairs under the Defence Ministry to be headed by the proposed CDS as its secretary. Curiously , India is the only democracy which does not have a single point adviser while countries like France, Russia, China, United States and United Kingdom do have such arrangement .
Referring to the availability of resources, it is hoped that with the appointment of the CDS, there could take place military commands for their optimal utilization as there would be no scattered or heterogeneous command but a joint or “theatre” command. In ordinary parlance , a “theatre” command refers to an organisational structure aimed at controlling all military assets and resources to achieve the desired effects and all the resources of all the wings are placed at the command of a designated military commander. Going by the vast critical duties decided to be assigned to the CDS would include being a member of Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee which are chaired by the Defence Minister and National Security Advisor respectively. He would supervise and have under his command, cyber and space related defence matters and also function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority. That verily confers on the important post varied and most responsible military duties .
There might have been certain humps and impediments in the past and opposition to the creation of such a post but with appointing of committees to look into the entire gamut of the issue and submitting its recommendations , decks were cleared hence the decision of the creation of the CDS . There should also be no room for any speculations as regards the possibility of the post emerging as too powerful as the selection is to be made from among the senior serving General and Flag officers of the Forces and carries the same perks and the salary as the Service Chiefs. The fact , however, remains that the advice of the CDS would be binding on the Service Chiefs as at some point, one direction to come from is needed and to be followed. It is believed that the CDS would come under the Right to Information Act.

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