Why India should have Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Publish On: 16 Aug, 2019 05:45 PM | Updated   |   Gaurav Sharma  
modi

Modi

In his Independence day speech on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will now have Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Several military veterans and politicians praised Prime Minister Modi's decision as it will help the military in adverse situations.

"Reform is also necessary. Defence reform has been in the works for a long time now and reports have been tabled several times. The rules of war are changing and India can’t think in a bubble. Our forces need to move together and can’t be falling behind," Modi said in his speech.

"Coordination should be in tandem with the other. I have decided that Chief of Defence Staff will be created. And all three forces will have one chief and this will help unite the forces," he added.

 

 

But what is CDS?

Currently, the three wings of Indian military have their separate chiefs- General for Army, Admiral for Navy and then the Air Chief Marshall for the Air Force but after this, there will be an only one-point advisor, who can surpass the Defence Secretary.

Why Modi is bringing in CDS?

Communication is important in every sector. So in adverse situations,  effective communication among three forces is very important. For example, three people with similar powers can have different opinions with nobody to be a mediator and balance. So to avoid a person will be appointed, who can act as a mediator.

Currently, Defence Secretary is not a man in uniform and is a bureaucrat so he does not a military mind and it will be very difficult to understand the situation.

This is no new term of India as post the Kargil War, there was very high demand of CDS by the military, however, due to bureaucratic inefficiency, the plan never made it to papers.