Both Serving And Retired Officers Could Be Considered For CDS Post: Report

Sources also told ANI that the announcement for the new Army chief’s appointment is also likely to come this week as a decision has already been taken.

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New Delhi: The government is likely to consider both serving and retired military officers for the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), news agency ANI reported.

As per an ANI source, the government would consider both three-star and four-star ranked officers. 

The post has been vacant since the death of former CDS General Bipin Rawat who died in a plane crash on December 8, 2021.

Sources also told ANI that the announcement for the new Army chief’s appointment is also likely to come this week as a decision has already been taken.

The appointment of a CDS, with the post created in 2019 by the BJP government, is considered to be one of the biggest military reforms in the higher military structure of the country.

“The CDS office and the theatre command planned to be created and put under its command are expected to make it the strongest ever military office in the country with all fighting formations reporting directly to it,” said ANI, citing sources.

The CDS was appointed as Secretary to the Department of Military which currently functions under an Additional Secretary-rank Lieutenant General.

The CDS is also the head of the Integrated Defence Staff which is currently being headed by a three-star officer from the Indian Air Force. 

The CDS is also appointed as the in charge of the Make in India in defence programme and has been given the mandate of promoting and ensuring the Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme in the defence sector.

The CDS is supposed to be the single point of contact between the government and the military. It is also the senior-most bureaucratic position in the defence ministry which has four major departments.