India's first chief of defence stuff Aiming to usher in reforms in the higher defence management Centre govt has approved the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff and Department of Military Affairs within the Ministry of Defence. CDS will be a four star officer and act as principal military adviser to defence minister on all tri services matters. In addition to heading the department of military Affairs, the CDS will also be the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. However CDS will not exercise any military command including over three service chiefs. To further understand the role and responsibilities of the CDS and it's implications on Defence Management. Rank of a four-star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief. Chief of Defence Staff will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.He will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Raksha Mantri on all tri-Services matters. CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership. Role of CDS: Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the Services through joint planning and integration of their requirements.Restructuring of Military Commands for optimal utilization of resource.Promoting use of indigenous equipment by the Services. Functions of CDS: Administer tri-services organisations. Tri-service agencies/organisations/commands related to Cyber and Space will be under the command of the CDS. Member of defense Acquistion council & defense planning committee. Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority. Bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services, within three years of the first CDS assuming office.Assign inter-Services prioritization to capital acquisition. Need of CDS: More need of joint working among Army, Navy & Airforce. Limited resources for the country so to utilize well. Communication issues, budgetary overruns by individual commands. Changing role of warfare – More technology oriented than manpower. Commonalities among three commands – logistics, training can be rationalized. (recommended by Shekatkar & Naresh kumar committee) Concerns: Cross posting in the decision making still needed – military officials in the decision making. Capital acquisitions being left out from the mandate of CDS It is expected that this reform in the Higher Defence Management would enable the Armed Forces to implement coordinated defence doctrines and procedures and go a long way in fostering jointmanship among the three Services. The country would be benefitted by coordinated action on greater jointmanship in training, logistics and operations as well as for prioritisation of procurements
