Chief of Defence Staff and top-level military reforms

What is the News?

The government of India is reassessing the concept of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs(DMA) to fix overlaps in the system and streamline the process due to which there has been a delay in the appointment of a new CDS.

What is the Chief of Defence Staff(CDS)?

In 2019, the Government of India created the post of Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) in the rank of a four-star General with a salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief.

Responsibilities of CDS

– Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-services matters. 

– Secretary to the Department of Military Affairs(DMA) in the Ministry of Defence(MoD).

– Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

– Evaluate plans for Out of Area Contingencies as well as other contingencies such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief(HADR).

– Capital Procurements: While capital procurements are still with the Department of Defense(DoD), the prioritization is with the CDS.

– Specialized tri-service divisions — special operations, defense cyber and defence space — were also brought under the ambit of the CDS.

Why is there a rethink on the concept of CDS?

There is a rethink on the concept of CDS because:

Firstly, the appointment of a CDS in itself wasn’t enough and there are several issues with respect to roles and responsibilities, issues of equivalence among others. 

Secondly, there is a dichotomy in the roles and responsibilities with the several hats worn by the CDS and also overlap in responsibilities between the DMA and DoD.

Thirdly, there is also a rethink on the ambitious timelines set for the creation of theater commands and also the number of commands and their envisaged format.

What are the options being looked at?

One of the ways to go forward would be to have a CDS with operational powers. After due legislative changes, the CDS will have theatre commanders report to him while the Service Chiefs will look after the raise, train and sustain functions of respective Services.

Source: The post is based on the article “Chief of Defence Staff and top-level military reforms” published in The Hindu on 17th May 2022.