In yet another indication the government is all set to announce the name of the country’s first-ever chief of defence staff #CDS, a pre-scheduled ceremony for the ceremonial transfer of the baton of chairman of chiefs of staff committee was deferred at the last minute on Friday.
Outgoing Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who completes his three-year tenure on December 31, was supposed to hand over the baton to Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh at the ceremony on Friday. “But it has been deferred to December 31,” said an official.
CoSC comprises the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs, with the senior-most of them acting as the ``rotational’’ chairman till he retires. But with the Cabinet approving the CDS post & its charter on Dec 24, General Rawat is widely considered to be the frontrunner for the position.
Though a 4-star general with the same pay & perks like the 3 Service chiefs, who will retain full operational control over their forces, the #CDS will be the “first among equals” as the permanent chairman of CoSC & head of a new department of military affairs in the MoD
