Question: Who has been appointed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on December 30,2019?
(a) Bipin Rawat
(b) Manoj Mukund Naravane
(c) Dalbir Singh Suhag
(d) Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- On 30th December 2019, General Bipin Rawat was appointed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
- He will serve as the first CDS till March 2022.
- The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the Indian Armed Forces and the senior-most uniformed military adviser to the Indian government.
- CDS will function as a single-point advisor to the government on matters related to the military and will focus on the better synergy between the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
- The Chief of Defence Staff will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
- The Chief of Defence Staff, apart from being the head of the Department of Military Affairs, will also be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
- He will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister on all tri-Services matters.
- Defence Ministry has amended the army, air force, and navy rules by bringing in a new clause that allows the CDS to serve up to a maximum age of 65 years.
CDS-a four star rank officer:
- The four-star rank of an officer in India is given to 5 officers. It includes Admiral of Indian Navy, Air Chief Marshal of Indian Air Force, General o f Indian Army and Director of Intelligence Bureau. Now, the rank is given to CDS officer as well.
Background:
- The position was first officially suggested in 1999 following the Kargil War through the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee.
- PM Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech announced the creation of Chief of Defence Staff, CDS to further sharpen coordination between the forces.
- On 24 December 2019, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff.
- The other countries that hold Chief of Defence Staff in the world includes Italy, France, China, Spain, UK, Canada and Japan.
Links:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1598029
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1597425
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_the_Defence_Staff_(India)