Press Information Bureau

Chief of Defence Staff

1. Introduction:

Hon’blePrime Minister ShriNarendraModi announced the Government's intention to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff during his address to the Nation on 15th August 2019.

2. History:

• In 1999, the Kargil Review Committee headed by Shri K Subrahmanyam, had recommended a review of the National Security Framework for improved decision-making on defence matters. The Committee also suggested that the mechanisms and interface between the Defence Ministry and the Service Headquarters should be thoroughly studied and reorganised.
• Based on the K Subrahmanyam Committee Report, a Group of Ministers (GoM) in 2001 recommended creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff.
• Many major countries of the world have created the post of the Chief of Defence Staff to bring more jointness and integration in their Armed Forces. These include Italy, France, China, UK, USA, Canada and Japan. Despite these examples, no consensus could be reached within India in this regard.
• Under the leadership of Prime Minister NarendraModi, this transformative reform was realised and brought to action.

 

3. Purpose:

• To achieve better results at all levels through effective coordination between the Armed Forces and the Civil Services. This would helpfacilitate inter-service integration and better civilian-military coordinationin the Nation's Higher Defence Organisation.
• To strengthen the process of Joint Planning, Operations and Procurement, thereby making Armed Forces more effective and efficient.

 

4. Reforms Undertaken:

The Cabinet Committee on Security took the historic decision on 24th December, 2019 to create the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to enhance the quality of military advice to political leadership through integration of service inputs.

(Read: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1597425)

 

• Former Chief of the Army Staff, General BipinRawat was appointed as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff on 31st December 2019.
• The creation of the 'Department of Military Affairs' (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence and the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) as well as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs, is the most significant and important reform in the Higher Defence Organisation.
• For smooth transition, 159 personnel from the Department of Defence were transferred to the newly created Department of Military Affairs.
• To provide Subject Matter Expertise, Officers from the three Armed Forces werealso appointed at the Department of Military Affairs. These include one Additional Secretary, three Joint Secretaries and several Directors/ Deputy Secretaries.

 

5. Outcomes:

• Under the DMA, three Joint Services Study Groups (JSSG) are developing common logistic policies for Services that will enhance all supply chain functions such as planning, procurement, inventory-maintenance, distribution, disposal and documentation.
• A pilot project based on the establishment of three Joint Logistic Nodes (JLN) at Mumbai, Guwahati and Port Blair has already been rolled out.

 

• Three Joint Doctrines have been formulated in the last one year, while four new joint doctrines namely Capstone, Space, Cyber and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) are at an advanced stage.
• In order to enhance Combat Capability and balance defence expenditure, more than 270 logistic installations of the Indian Army have been closed or scaled down, resulting in substantial savings to the exchequer, besides increasing the ‘Teeth to Tail’ ratio.
• A holistic review of the training methodology is also underway to modernise, integrate and rationalise training, as also to ensure optimal utilisation of infrastructure and resources.
• The Department of Military Affairs released the first Positive Indigenisation List of 101 items in August 2020 and the Second Positive Indigenisation List comprising 108 items on 31^st May 2021. These lists include major Combat Platforms, advanced Weapon Systems, Armament and Ammunition.
• A ‘Tri–Services Joint Working Group’ has also been set up to study and work out the nuances of integrating Communication Networks between the Services.
• The CDS and DMA are striving to promote integration of the three services (Army, Air Force, and Navy) through joint planning for best use of military capabilities.

 

Source: PIB e-booklet on Chief of Defence Staff

 

AG/AR/DG