NEW DELHI, Dec 30 - Indian Army�s outgoing chief, Gen Bipin Rawat, was on Monday appointed India�s first Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), the principal military adviser to Defence Minister and head of the new Department of Military Affairs.
�File for the appointment of India�s first CDS was cleared by Appointment Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning,� said a senior government officer, privy to the decision making process.
The government announced that Gen Rawat, set to retire on December 31, has been appointed as CDS and will be holding the post till 65 years of age, which for him is March 31, 2023. Gen Rawat, who will take charge as CDS from January 1, served a rare full three-year term as the Army Chief after he superseded two officers in 2016.
He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles on December 16, 1978.
On Sunday, the Defence Ministry amended the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force rules, to provide for the CDS or tri-service chiefs being able to serve till 65. As per existing government rules, the three service chiefs can serve up to the age of 62 or for three years, whichever is earlier.
In his Independence Day speech this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India will have the CDS. The Union Cabinet had, on December 24, approved the post of the CDS and its charter and duties. The CDS will be a 4-star general rank officer.
�He will be drawing a salary equivalent to service chiefs, and will head the Department of Military Affairs to be created under the Ministry of Defence. He will function as its Secretary,� Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said during the Cabinet briefing.
The CDS will have all the powers like other secretaries, including financial. � IANS
