Chief Of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat & his Contribution to The Nation in his 1st year of service

By Abhijeet Kashyap Last updated Jan 1, 2021

India a land with enriched texture & history has always been in the eyes of the neighbouring countries from a very-very long time. But in the history the great warriors had gave the ultimate sacrifice for their motherland & now the Indian Armed forces does the same.

Indian Armed forces comprises of the Army, The Air Force & the Navy.

The Government of India is responsible for ensuring the defence of India and every part thereof. The Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces is the President of India. The responsibility for National Defence rests with the Cabinet. This is discharged through the Ministry of Defence, which provides the policy framework and wherewithal to the Armed Forces to discharge their responsibility in defence of the country.

Integration of the Tri-Services:

As I stated earlier, Having indulged regularly in WAR the Tri-Services have always played their role to their best. But there was a need of strong bond between all three forces which makes the militia power of India more Robust. And, that’s where the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff plays its role).

Need for Chief of Defence Staff:-

Perhaps the most acute need for a CDS was felt in the aftermath of the Kargil Wars 1999 which saw the Army’s request for Air support got rejected by the CCS— resulting in the delayed air assaults by several weeks.

It was after the 1999 Kargil War that a recommendation for creating the post of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) was first made. A high level Committee (Kargil Review Committee) was set up to examine the gaps in the country’s security system had suggested that the three services should have a Chief of Defence Staff.

Although, it took around 20 years to be formed but now it is formed & strengthening the defence power.

Description of the post :-

The CDS has been appointed the role of being the main military adviser, acting as the single-point military adviser to the government and Defence minister. India was the only large democracy which did not have a single point military advisor, with all P5 country.

The CDS is a four-star rank officer (Generals) (Not five star because having so much power in hand of a single man can disturb the integrity of the nation) Selected from the serving officers of the Indian Armed forces.

The holder of the post is also the head of all tri-services command & replaces the post of chief of Integrated Defense Staff. The CDS is assisted by a Deputy, the Vice Chief of Defence Staff. He heads the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence, as its secretary. Apart from heading the DMA (Department of Military Affairs) the CDS is the Permanent Chairperson of chief of Staff Committee (PO-COSC).

Functions to be performed by CDS :

Integrating operations of the Army, Airforce & the Navy.
Bringing jointness and ensure optimal utilization of infrastructure in the three services.
Implementing weapons procurement procedures.
Authority to create theatre commands when needed.
Commands tri-service agencies, organisations& commands including those related to cyber & space.
Function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
Bring about reforms in the functioning of Tri-Services & enhance the combat capabilities.
The CDS’s salary & perks will be same as the service chiefs. The CDS will come under the Right to Information Act.
General BipinRawat(PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM, ADC )retired from the post of chief of Army staff after serving three years (31 Dec. 2016-31 Dec. 2019) & was then appointed as it First Chief of Defence Staff. He assumed office from Jan. 1, 2020.

It has been a majestic year for him on the post of CDS.

Let us see the some major work done by him:

Recently, CDS BipinRawat stated that a new peninsular command is to be shaped. Indian Army Western & Northern Commands will be converted into 2-5 theatres & J & K will be a separate theatre command.
The Eastern & Western Naval Commands are integrated & named Peninsular command which is expected to include Sir Creek area in west &Sunderbans in east.
Ministry of Defence& CDS BipinRawat introduced the ‘Tour of Duty’ programme for the young countrymen.
In the Recent clash with china, General Rawat had firmly held the ground with a boosting morale of Indian Army.
Many Indigenously built state-of-the-the-art projects were completed & introduced to the Indian Armed forces like the stealth frigate ‘Himagiri’.
China has been regularly creating disturbances in Indian ocean region. To counter it, with the advice by CDS BipinRawat, IAF has deployed their Jaguars in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In Sept, last year, the Indian Navy forced out a Chinese research vessel after it entered India’s economic zone in Andaman Sea.
The RR (Rashtriya Rifles) is a counterinsurgency force having 65 battalion & is comprised of soldiers deputed from army units. CDS BipinRawat stated that although there is adequate personnel deployed at each headquarter, a scarcity of troops arises in the battalions. In an attempt to counter this, the army is planning to do away with the headquarters at the Brigades level. Thus, the ADG of RR has been shifted to Srinagar.
In Amid tensions with China, Indian Navy’s Poseidon 8A anti-submarine warfare aircraft have been deployed in eastern Ladakh to carry out surveillance.Same aircraft was deployed in Doklam along the Sikkim border too during the 73-day standoff b/w Indian & Chinese troops in 2017.

The P-8/5 were also deployed to keep on eye on movement of Pakistani troops after the Pulwama terror attack last year.