Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Union Cabinet gives approval

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Union Cabinet gives approval

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security

In News

• CDS will function as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC)
• The CDS will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created in the Ministry of Defence, and function as its Secretary. The armed forces will be brought under the DMA
• The CDS will look after the jointness in operations, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance etc of the three Services, within three years of the first CDS assuming office.
• CDS will be member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by RakshaMantri and Defence Planning Committee chaired by NSA.
• CD will also function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authoritychaired by the Prime Minister
• CDS will be a rank of a four-star General, with salary and perquisites equivalent to a service chief.
• 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. 
• CDS would come in the ambit of ‘Right to Information Act’, in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.
• CDS would also evaluate plans “for ‘Out of Area Contingencies’, as well other contingencies such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).