General Bipin Rawat Appointed India’s First Chief Of Defence Staff
The appointment of General Bipin Rawat as Chief of Defence Staff comes a day ahead of his retirement as Indian Army chief.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was on Monday appointed the country's first Chief of Defence Staff whose mandate will be to bring in convergence in functioning of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.
According to a government order, Rawat has been appointed Chief of Defence Staff with effect from Dec. 31.
Rawat assumed charge as Chief of Army Staff on Dec. 31, 2016. He was to retire on Tuesday from the service. Before becoming the Army Chief, he handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the Line of Control with Pakistan, the Line of Actual Control with China and in the Northeast.
In a landmark decision, the Cabinet Committee on Security had last Tuesday approved the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff who will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters relating to tri-services.
A key mandate of the Chief of Defence Staff will be to facilitate restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint/theatre commands.
Officials said bringing about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance of the three services within three years will be another major mandate of the Chief of Defence Staff.