General Bipin Rawat Among Front Runners For CDS Post: Reports

After Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared way for the appointment of Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet is set to consider the names of panel of military officers for the post, say reports. The government is likely to announce the name of India’s first CDS in a day or two. Speculations are rife that Army Chief Bipin Rawat may get the top military post as his name features in the list of probable candidates.

Government Sources: Government expected to take a day or two more for announcing the name of the first Chief of Defence Staff. Appointments Committee of Cabinet to consider the names of panel of military officers for the post. Army chief General Bipin Rawat’s name also in list.

— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2019

The creation of CDS, which will be single-point military adviser, was suggested by Kargil Review Committee in 1999. Along with CDS, Department of Military Affairs under Ministry of Defence will also be created.

The CCS also approved the report of a high-level committee, headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, which finalised responsibilities and the enabling framework for the CDS, they said.

In a landmark military reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced that India will have a CDS as head of the tri-services.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech from the ramparts of Red Fort had announced that the government was mulling over the landmark military reform. Days after the prime minister’s announcement, an Implementation Committee headed by Doval was appointed to finalise an enabling framework and determine the exact responsibilities for the CDS.