Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Defence Sector Restructuring
Science & Technology › Defence Technology and Missile Systems · Topic 16.14
The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, is the senior most military officer of India, a four star general or equivalent who acts as the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister and is the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The post was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee of 1999 and a Group of Ministers in 2001, announced by the Prime Minister from the Red Fort on 15 August 2019, and approved by the Cabinet on 24 December 2019. General Bipin Rawat became the first CDS on 1 January 2020. The CDS also heads the new Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of Defence as its Secretary. The post aims at jointness among the Army, Navy and Air Force, better planning and procurement, and the creation of theatre commands.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Defence Technology and Missile Systems
At a Glance
- Recommended by Kargil Review Committee, 1999
- Announced 15 August 2019
- First CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, 1 Jan 2020
- New department Department of Military Affairs
- Goal Jointness and theatre commands
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Defence Technology and Missile Systems
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of the Kaveri failed)…">Light Combat Aircraft. It moves from equipment to the structure of the defence establishment, which is a regular theme in questions on reforms. Previous topic: Light Combat Aircraft. Next topic: Robotics, AI and Internet of Military Things (IoMT) in Defence.
What Is the CDS and Why Was It Created?
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Background | The Kargil Review Committee under K Subrahmanyam (1999) found a lack of integration between the services and the Ministry, and a Group of Ministers (2001) recommended the CDS. Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff was set up in 2001, but the post stayed vacant for years |
| Decision | Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2019 and the Cabinet Committee on Security approved it on 24 December 2019 |
| First CDS | General Bipin Rawat, who took office on 1 January 2020 and died in a helicopter crash at Coonoor on 8 December 2021. General Anil Chauhan was appointed CDS on 30 September 2022 |
| Rank and tenure | A four star officer who serves till age 65 |
| Roles | Principal military adviser to the Defence Minister, permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, head of the Department of Military Affairs, and military adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority |
| Limits | The CDS does not exercise command over the three Service Chiefs, who still advise the Minister on their own services |
| Department of Military Affairs | Created in January 2020 with the CDS as its Secretary, to handle the armed forces, joint planning, procurement and promotion of indigenous equipment |
What Other Restructuring Has Been Done?
- Theatre commands: integrating resources of the three services in regional commands for operations. The Andaman and Nicobar Command (2001) is the only tri-service theatre command so far, and other proposals are under study
- Strategic Forces Command: set up in 2003 to handle nuclear forces
- Defence Cyber Agency and Defence Space Agency: created in 2019 as tri-service bodies
- Ordnance Factory Board: its 41 factories were corporatised into seven defence public sector undertakings from 1 October 2021
- Defence Acquisition Council: top body for approving purchases, created in 2001
- Agnipath scheme: launched in June 2022 to recruit young soldiers for four years, with a quarter retained later
- Positive indigenisation lists: lists of items that cannot be imported, issued from August 2020
- FDI limit: foreign direct investment in defence was raised to 74 percent under the automatic route in 2020
What Else Should You Remember?
- Shekatkar Committee: a 2016 committee on defence expenditure reform, which recommended cutting 57,000 posts and better use of resources
- Naresh Chandra Task Force: a 2012 task force which recommended a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- Integrated Defence Staff: a joint planning body formed in 2001
- Defence Planning Committee: set up in 2018 under the National Security Adviser
- Joint doctrine: a joint doctrine for the armed forces was released in 2017
- Joint logistics: joint logistics nodes were set up in 2021 at Mumbai, Guwahati and Port Blair
- Theatre command debate: concern about control of air assets and roles of the Air Force
- Revised promotion rules: officers of any service can be appointed to joint posts
- Tenure rules: service chiefs retire at 62 or after three years, whichever earlier, and the CDS up to 65
- Defence budget: the Union Budget 2025-26 allotted around Rs 6.8 lakh crore to defence
- Capital procurement: a part of capital purchases is reserved for domestic industry
- Defence Procurement Procedure: the rules for buying, replaced by a new manual in 2025 to 2026, which should be checked
- iDEX: Innovations for Defence Excellence, a scheme of 2018 for start-ups
- Defence corridors: industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu announced in 2018
- Defence exports: exports crossed Rs 20,000 crore in a recent year, and the target is Rs 50,000 crore by 2029
- Civil-military relations: the CDS arrangement keeps civilian control, with the Defence Secretary responsible for the Department of Defence
- Link: cyber and space bodies are in Cyber Warfare Preparedness
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Dates: Announced 2019, approved December 2019
- Persons: Rawat first, Chauhan next
- Department: DMA
- Current affairs link: theatre commands and CDS tenure
- Common errors: saying the CDS commands the Chiefs or is a five star rank
As an analytical point, the CDS reforms aim at jointness, but their success depends on theatre commands, clear civil-military roles and a shared budget plan. Resistance from services and unsettled doctrine have slowed progress.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Origin Kargil lessons
- Roles CDS and DMA
- Next step Theatres
What Came Next?
The next topic covers robotics, AI and the Internet of Military Things in defence. Next topic: Robotics, AI and Internet of Military Things (IoMT) in Defence.
Key People and Terms
- CDS Chief of Defence Staff
- DMA Department of Military Affairs
- COSC Chiefs of Staff Committee
- Theatre command Integrated regional command
- IDS Integrated Defence Staff
- DAC Defence Acquisition Council
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- CDS announced 15 August 2019; approved 24 December 2019.
- First CDS: Bipin Rawat, 1 January 2020.
- Tenure up to age 65.
- OFB split into seven DPSUs in 2021.
- Agnipath: June 2022.
Do Not Confuse With
- CDS and Service Chief Joint adviser versus single service head
- DMA and Department of Defence Military matters versus general defence
- Theatre and functional command Regional versus task-based
Memory Hook
Kargil asked, Red Fort announced, Rawat first, DMA beside, theatres next.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for dates, roles and reforms. These points help.
- Need Jointness
- Roles CDS, DMA
- Challenges Theatres
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the need for the post of the Chief of Defence Staff and the challenges in creating theatre commands.”
How to Answer
- Need Kargil lessons.
- Roles CDS and DMA.
- Reforms OFB, Agnipath.
- Challenges Turf.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Chief of Defence Staff?
The Chief of Defence Staff is the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister and permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The CDS also heads the Department of Military Affairs, promotes jointness in operations, training and procurement of the three services, and advises the Nuclear Command Authority.
Who was the first CDS of India?
General Bipin Rawat was the first Chief of Defence Staff, taking office on 1 January 2020 after the Cabinet approved the post in December 2019. He died in a helicopter crash at Coonoor on 8 December 2021. General Anil Chauhan was appointed CDS in September 2022.
What is the Department of Military Affairs?
The Department of Military Affairs is the fifth department of the Ministry of Defence, created in January 2020 and headed by the CDS as its Secretary. It deals with the armed forces, joint planning and integration, use of resources, promotion of indigenous equipment and the procurement of items other than capital acquisitions.
What are theatre commands?
Theatre commands are integrated military commands for a region, placing Army, Navy and Air Force units under a single commander so that they train and fight together. India has only the Andaman and Nicobar Command as a tri-service command, and proposals for others have been under study for years.
Which committee recommended the post of CDS?
The Kargil Review Committee, chaired by K Subrahmanyam, recommended better integration of the armed forces in 1999, and a Group of Ministers in 2001 recommended the post of Chief of Defence Staff. The post was finally created in 2019 after a gap of nearly two decades.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The first CDS of India was General Bipin Rawat.
From 1 January 2020.
2 The CDS commands the three Service Chiefs.
He does not exercise command.
3 The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the CDS.
As its Secretary.
4 The Kargil Review Committee recommended the CDS post.
Later endorsed by a GoM.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Defence Technology and Missile Systems. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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