Question: Who has been appointed as the first CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) of India, the post created in 2019 by the Ministry in the rank of a four star general?
(a) VK Singh
(b) Bipin Rawat
(c) Deepak Kapoor
(d) BS Dhanoa
Answer: (b)
Related facts:
- 2019 was a year full of remarkable events for Ministry of Defence. The Government has approved to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the rank of a four-star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief.
- The CDS will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
- The decision will lead to improved coordination between the Armed Forces and make them more effective.
The other major decisions and events related to Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces are as follows:
- Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the National War Memorial in a solemn ceremonial function on February 25, 2019 near India Gate.
- The memorial has been erected in the memory of those soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation after India became Independent in 1947.
- In an intelligence led operation in the early hours of February 26 2019, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish e Mohammad (JeM) in Balakot, Pakistan.
- Rajnath Singh became the first Raksha Mantri to fly the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Airport in Bengaluru, in September 2019.
- Defence Minister handed over Medium Range Surface-to-Air-Missile to Indian Air Force at the Bharat Dynamics Limited premises in Hyderabad on August 3 on the occasion of Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Defence PSU.
- Government decided to honour the contribution of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by naming the Strategic Tunnel under Rohtang Pass after him on December 25, 2019.
- The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worked relentlessly to overcome major geological, terrain and weather challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587-metre Seri Nalah Fault Zone.
- On 20 February 2019, the then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 12th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition at Bengaluru which witnessed participation of more than 600 Indian Companies and 200 foreign companies.
BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION:
- Rajnath Singh and Dr S Jaishankar took part in the India-US 2+2 dialogue between the Defence & External Affairs Ministers of India and their US counterparts in Washington on December 18 2019. Both sides committed to further deepen military-to-military cooperation, including between the Indian Navy and the US Navy Fleets under US Indo-Pacific Command.
- India-Japan 2+2 dialogue was held in New Delhi on November 30 2019. Rajnath Singh and Dr S Jaishankar participated in the meeting with their Japanese counterparts. They affirmed that the dialogue will further enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defence cooperation.
- Shri Rajnath Singh visited Thailand’s capital Bangkok to attend the 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) on November 17. He also held various bilateral meetings with the leaders of US, Thailand, Japan, Australia & New Zealand and discussed ways to further improving the ties.
- Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 19thIndia-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation in Moscow along with his Russian counterpart.
- In February 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman visited Germany and met her counterpart. The two Ministers comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral defence cooperation as an important facet of India-Germany Strategic Partnership.
Indian army:
- Successful summer user trials of third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile NAG at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges. The trials of DRDO developed Missile were conducted between July 7 and 18, 2019.
- The 14thedition of bilateral annual military exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIV between Indian and Nepal Army was held in December at Nepal Army Battle School (NABS), Salijhandi, Rupendehi district of Nepal.
- Inaugural edition of the Africa-India Field Training Exercise-2019 (AFINDEX-19) was culminated on March 27, 2019 at Foreign Training Node, Aundh Military Station, Pune. The Indian contingent was represented by Maratha Light Infantry (Jangi Paltan).
- Fourteen-day military exercise Mitra Shakti VI between Indian and Sri Lankan Army was held between March 26 to April 08 , 2019 at Diyatalawa Parade Ground in Diyatalawa, Badulla District, Sri Lanka. This was the sixth edition of the joint exercise.
Indian Navy
Commissioning and Decommissioning
- The sixth ship of the 08 x IN LCU (Mark IV) project, IN LCU L56 was commissioned at Vishakhapatnam on July 29 2019. The seventh ship of the project, LCU L57, was delivered in December 19 and is likely to be commissioned in the near future.
- The second submarine of Scorpene Class (Project 75), INS Khanderi, and the Aircraft Carrier Dock, was commissioned by Rajnath Singh at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on September 28 2019.
- Naval Air Station Shibpur was commissioned as INS Kohassa on January 24 2019.
Naval Operations/ Activities:
- Indian Navy has been undertaking Mission Based Deployments in the Areas of Interest in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with an aim to safeguard national maritime interests and maintain continuous/near continuous presence in areas of significant maritime importance in the IOR.
- These deployments were also in consonance with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’. The IN ships and aircraft are being regularly deployed in the Gulf of Oman/ Persian Gulf, Gulf of Aden/ Red Sea, South and Central Indian Ocean Region (IOR), off Sunda Strait, Andaman Sea/ approaches to Malacca Strait and Northern Bay of Bengal.
Indian Air Force:
- Contract for five Squadrons of Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile System i.e. S-400 missile system has been signed with the Russian Government. The equipment of the first Sqn is likely to be inducted in mid 2020.
- IAF is procuring 18 Squadrons of Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile System which has been jointly developed by DRDO and IAI. Induction of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile System will be from early 2020 onwards.
- Rafale Aircraft: To enhance the combat capability of IAF and improve its fighter squadron strength is in progress. Rafale is an omni-role fighter aircraft which will provide long range capability to engage targets in depth and will provide a strong weapons and systems capability edge over our adversaries.
- Additional Su-30 MKI Aircraft: IAF had contracted for 272 Su-30 MKI aircraft under various contracts. Presently deliveries are continuing under block IV contract and are likely to conclude by March 2020.
- Apache Helicopter: Apache is a Tandem Seating, day/night, all weather capable platform. It is highly agile, survivable against battle damage and is easily maintainable even in field conditions. 17 helicopters have already been delivered.
- Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH): The delivery of 15 x Chinook helicopters has started from March 2019 and will be completed by March 2020.
Make Projects
- Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C): AEW&C is an indigenous system successfully developed by DRDO. The second AEW&C aircraft has been handed over by CABS to IAF on 11 Sep 19.
- Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS): The IACCS is fully indigenous project which will integrate all sensors to give composite Air Situation Picture and aids in quick decision making.
International Exercise
- Ex Garuda: Four Su-30MKI participated in Ex Garuda at Mont-de-Marsan, France from 01 to 14 Jul 19.
- Ex Eastern Bridge: Five Mig-29 participated in Ex Eastern Bridge V in Oman from 15 to 26 Oct 19. This is the first time that the MiG-29 ac participated in an international exercise abroad. The exercise was conducted professionally and performance of MiG -29 was appreciated.
- JMT: The bilateral phase of Joint Military Training with Singapore Air Force is planned from 14 to 29 Nov 19 at Air Force Station Kalaikunda. Su-30MKI participated in this exercise.
- Raksha Mantri commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Varaha’ in Chennai on September 25, 2019 to further strengthen coastal security.
DEFEXPO 2020
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the first meeting of the Apex Committee for DefExpo 2020 in New Delhi on September 9, 2019 in the presence of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.
- Rajnath Singh chaired Ambassadors’ Round Table on DefExpo 2020 in New Delhi on November 4, 2019 in major outreach to defence manufacturing industries of the world. Heads of Missions and Defence Attaches of over 80 countries participated in the conference.
Links:
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=196160