General Bipin Rawat Takes Charge As CDS, Says We Have To Work According To Government In Power

General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday took charge as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the presence all the three service chiefs. After taking charge as CDS, General Rawat said integration of all the three services will be top priority and the services will work as a team. “As per the task given to the Chief of Defence Staff we have to enhance integration and do better resource management”, said Rawat.

On being asked whether he is politically inclined, General Rawat said, “We stay far away from politics, very far. We have to work according to the directions of the Government in power.”

Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) General Bipin Rawat on allegations that he is politically inclined: We stay far away from politics, very far. We have to work according to the directions of the Government in power pic.twitter.com/CYQnp3C9o6

— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

Earlier, Rawat paid tributes at the National War Memorial and received guard of honour.

He said that focus will be to ensure best and optimal use of resources allocated to three services.

The post of CDS has been created after Prime Minister Narendra Modi annouced from the ramparts of Red Fort that his government would establish the top military post.

Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the creation of the CDS who will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters relating to tri-services. According to existing rules, the service chiefs can serve for a maximum period of three years or till attaining the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

The CDS will not be eligible to hold any government post after demitting office. The CDS will not be allowed to take up any private employment without prior approval for a period of five years after demitting the office, officials said.

A key mandate of the CDS will be to facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/theatre commands.