Context :- 

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat is working on a timeline for the rollout of joint commands of the Army, Navy and Air Force beginning with an Air Defence Command.

• The old civil-military relationship has been reformed, with far greater powers in decision-making now being given to the armed forces.

About CDS:

The CDS is a high military office that will oversee and coordinate the working of the three Services, and offer seamless tri-service views and single-point advice to the Executive (in India’s case, to the Prime Minister) on long-term defence planning and management, including manpower, equipment and strategy, and above all, “jointsmanship” in operations.

Background of CDS in India :

• The defence ministry is the chief link between the government and the armed forces. 
• Civilian control over the military: Pakistan’s misadventures with military coups made the civilian leadership even more keen to ensure the separation of army and politics.
• After Kargil war: The clamour for a chief of defence staff returned again after the Kargil war of 1999, where the lack of coordination between the army and the air force was criticised.The Kargil Review Committee (KRC) came up with the proposal of CDS in 2000 for the first time and called for apex decision-making and structure and coordination between the three services. Naresh Chandra committee recommended for the Appointment of a Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC), There was no consensus on the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) A committee headed by Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar had earlier recommended three new commands: Northern, for China; Western, for the Pakistan border’ and Southern, for maritime security. The government created the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) in late 2002 in preparation for the post. However, this has remained yet another vague department. Finally, in 2019, The Union Govt. approved to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of a four-star General with salary and benefits equivalent to a Service Chief.
• In India, there is also a post named as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC). The senior-most among the three Service Chiefs are chosen as head of the committee.
• The United States has such a post named as chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). The committee includes members of the chiefs of the United States Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard.

Need for CDS in India

The underlying rationale for appointing a CDS is to separate management and command of the Armed Forces. 

• Better coordination among the three Services:
• India is the only major democracy in which the Armed Forces Headquarters is outside the apex governmental structure
• The CDS office will help in planning, procurement, training, budgeting, and logistics among the Army, Navy and IAF.
• Removing the fragmented approach: Our entire military power will have to work in unison and move forward.  
• Resolving problems with Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) post- CoSC is a toothless office because of its structure as a “figurehead”.

Perks and retirement of CDS

• CDS will have salary and perquisites at par with the three services chiefs.
• The Centre notified the retirement age for the CDS as 65 years, which will be three years more than the retirement age of the three service chiefs.

Role of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) : 

Fundamentally, the CDS will perform two roles, as the single point military advisor to the Defence Minister and as head of the Department of Military Affairs (DoMA).

• First role: The CDS will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on tri-Services issues.
• The three Chiefs will continue to render advice to the defence minister on matters pertaining exclusively to their service. 
• The CDS is also vested with the authority to provide directives to the three chiefs.
• He has no military command over the other services and can only advise the government on matters that concern all three services.
• The second role: Additionally, the CDS will lead the Department of Military Affairs (DoMA) dealing with the three services. 
• CDS will enjoy the rank of Secretary within the DoD and his powers will be confined to only the revenue budget. 
• CDS is vested with the authority in prioritising inter-service procurement decisions as Permanent Chairman-Chiefs of Staff Committee. 
• The CDS as the PC-COSC would administer all tri-Services organisations including the Strategic Forces Command that function under the Nuclear Command Authority. 
• While the CDS does not enjoy any command authority, in its capacity as DoMA, it will wield control over issues governing promotions, travel, appointments to key posts, and overseas assignments. 

Why the dual role-

A chief as well as an adviser? - There is a need for the CDS to act as a bridge between the political leadership and the military instrument, which has to encompass the shaping of the military through long term plans that are guided politically. 

Functions of CDS-

• Promoting joint manship: This ‘single-point military adviser’ will be able to analyse the operational strengths and weaknesses and the interdependence of each of the services on the other to meet the complex emerging challenges in a nuclear environment.
• Conceptualize and implement the transformation of the forces into theatre commands.
• Optimize defence economics and make expenditure more effective as CDS will also be in charge of defence procurements under the revenue budget.
• CDS will be member of Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee: His role is to ensure that acquisitions do not exceed capital allocations.
• It will be confined to the acquisition matters exclusive to each service. The Department of Defence (DoD) will continue to control  the procurement of big-ticket items such as warships or fighter aircraft, 
• As the head of the Department of Military Affairs (DoMA) dealing with the three services. 
• As head of department, the CDS will now be answerable to Parliament. Function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.