CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF (CDS)

About:

• The Chief of Defence Staff will head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
  
  
• The following areas will be dealt by the Department of Military Affairs headed by CDS:
  • The Armed Forces of the Union, namely, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
    
    
  • Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence comprising Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Defence Staff Headquarters.
    
    
  • The Territorial Army.
    
    
  • Works relating to the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
    
    
  • Procurement exclusive to the Services except capital acquisitions, as per prevalent rules and procedures.
    
    
  
  
  
• The CDS will also be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and thus will perform the following functions:
  • Tri-service agencies/organisations/commands related to Cyber and Space will be under the command of the CDS.
    
    
  • CDS will be member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri and Defence Planning Committee chaired by NSA.
    
    
  • Function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.
    
    
  • Bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services, within three years of the first CDS assuming office.
    
    
  
  
  
• He will also act as the Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister on all tri-Services matters.
  
  
• CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.