General Bipin Rawat to take charge as India’s first-ever Chief of Defence Staff

Outgoing Army Chief General Bipin Rawat is set to take over as India’s first-ever Chief of Defence Staff, a crucial position which will enable him to assist the Indian government in accelerating defence acquisition and modernisation. In his new position, which has fructified after years of debate, General Rawat will be in direct contact with the Prime Minister on security issues and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force would report to him. He would head the Department of Military Affairs and paid a salary equivalent to a service chief. General Rawat, who is completing his full three-year term as the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2019, will serve as Chief of Defence Staff till March 2022. “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,” India’s Defence Ministry in a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the creation of the post of CDS in his Independence Day speech on August 15. “This is going to make the forces even more effective,” said the prime minister.