New Delhi: Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat has been named India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.
However, an official announcement regarding the appointment of Gen Rawat as the first CDS is awaited.
General Rawat was named the Chief of Defence Staff just a day before he was to retire from service after completing a full three-year term as the Chief of Army Staff.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on December 24, approved the CDS post and its charter and duties.
The CDS will act as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-services matters. The three service chiefs will continue to advise the Defence Minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective forces.
Notably, two days before his retirement, the Defence Ministry amended rules of service and tenure in the Army Rules, 1954. The move was seen as government’s intention to appoint Rawat as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.
In its notification dated December 28, the Ministry has stated that Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) or tri-services chief will be able to serve till the age of 65 years. “Provided that the Central Government may, if considered necessary, in public interest, so to do, give extension of service to the Chief of Defence Staff, referred to in the Explanation to clause (a) of sub rule (5), for such period or periods, as it may deem necessary subject to maximum age of 65 years.”
On 2019 Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi had announced in his speech that his government would establish a top military post and the appointed advisor would be suggesting the government on all matters related to the military. The recommendation was first made by a committee that examined the military’s performance during the 1999 Kargil conflict.
Meanwhile, as the government named Army chief General Bipin Rawat as the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Twitterati on Monday hailed the decision, while a few questioned him over his recent statement on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
#bipinrawat trended on Twitter.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, himself a former Army officer, wrote on @capt_amarinder: “Many congratulations to General Bipin Rawat as he takes charge as India’s first CDS. My best wishes to him on this new mission as the principal military advisor on all matters related to the armed forces.”
BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda tweeted: “Congratulations to Gen #BipinRawat on being named the nation’s first #CDS. It’s a landmark moment for our armed forces, with the streamlining of all three services & going from silos to coordinated functioning.
One user wrote: General Rawat has been named the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)… sincere congratulations sir.”
Another tweet said: “If one wants to learn the real meaning of leadership, look upon a soldier #BipinRawat sir is an epitome of leadership who led his boys always in an appropriate direction for the integrity of nation.”
“Heartiest congratulations to General Bipin Rawat ji on being named India’s first ever CDS. He will serve as the single-point military advisor to the government,” read another post.