Army Chief General Bipin Rawat named CDS

Army Chief General  Bipin Rawat will take over as India’s first ever Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The Government last Tuesday approved the creation of the post pending post the 1999 Kargil War when the necessity was felt for coordinating the functioning of three services- army, navy and defence forces. The CDS will function as the single point military advisor to the government in higher defence management besides ensuring synergy among the three services for operation and optimum utilisation of resources. CDS will be the Principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee. CDS will be entrusted with the task of rationalizing weapons procurement and integrating operation of armed forces. However, he will be deprived of the power of military command over the chiefs of three services. He will hold the office for three years or till the age of 65 whichever is earlier.
Outspoken General Rawat, who has courted controversies for speaking up in national interest on some occasions, was born to  Lt General Laxman Singh  Rawat on March 16, 1958 in Pauri Garwal now in Uttarakhand. Services Chiefs retire at the age 62 or at the end of 3 -year -term whichever is earlier. He completes the tenure at the age of 61 to take over as India’s first ever CDS. (edited by PK Chakravarty)