Army Chief General Rawat Pays Tribute At National War Memorial, To Take Over As CDS On January 1

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat who has been appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff of the country on Tuesday paid tribute at National War Memorial in the national capital. General Rawat will take over as first Chief of Defence Staff tomorrow, news agency ANI reported. General Rawat has been mandated to bring in convergence in functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country’s military prowess.

His appointment to the newly created post came a day before he was due to retire following a three-year tenure as the Army Chief during which he initiated a series of reforms in the 1.3 million-strong force besides following a policy of “hot pursuit” in dealing with cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will take over as first Chief of Defence Staff on January 1. https://t.co/nkS9VgMCiC

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2019

According to a government order, Gen Rawat has been appointed as the CDS with effect from December 31.

“Government has decided to appoint Gen Rawat as the Chief of Defence Staff with effect from December 31 and until further orders and extension in service of Gen Rawat with effect from December 31 and till the period he holds the office of CDS,” the defence ministry said.

Gen Rawat will be able to serve as CDS for a period of up to three years after the government amended the rules extending the age of retirement to 65 years.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had, in a landmark decision last week, 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.

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

Officials said bringing about jointness in logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance of the three services within three years will also be another major mandate of the CDS.