Editing Chief of Defence Staff (India)

{{short description|Leader of the Indian Armed Forces}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief
| body = Defence Staff
| native_name = 
| insignia = Seal of Chief of Defence Staff (India).png
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = Seal of the Chief of Defence Staff
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of Chief of Defence Staff (India).svg
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff
| image = Anil Chauhan Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).jpg
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| imagecaption = 
| incumbent = [[General (India)|General]] [[Anil Chauhan]]<br/>{{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}
| acting = N
| incumbentsince = 30 September 2022
| department = {{flagicon image|Flag of Integrated Defence Staff.svg}} [[Integrated Defence Staff]]
| style = 
| type = Chief of Defence Forces
| status = Leader of the Armed Forces, Highest ranking military officer
| abbreviation = CDS
| member_of = {{plainlist|
* Chiefs of Staff Committee
* [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Council]]
* Defence Acquisition Council
* [[Defence Planning Committee]]
* [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|Nuclear Command Authority]]
}}
| reports_to = [[File:Flag of India.svg|20px]] [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Ministry of Defence of India.svg|20px]] [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]
| residence = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| seat = [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Integrated Defence Headquarters]]
| nominator = 
| appointer = [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]]
| appointer_qualified = 
| termlength = 3 years,
| termlength_qualified = or until the age of 65.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chief-of-defence-staff-can-serve-till-65-says-government/article30427338.ece|title=Chief of Defence Staff can serve till 65, says government|date=29 December 2019|author=Dinakar Peri|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
| constituting_instrument = 
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|1|1}}
| first = [[General (India)|General]] [[Bipin Rawat]]<br />{{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|YSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}
| last = 
| abolished = 
| superseded_by = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]]
| salary = 
| website = {{official website|https://www.ids.nic.in/cds.php}}
| footnotes = 
}}

The '''Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces''' ('''CDS''') is the [[chief of defence|professional head]] and permanent [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]] (COSC) of the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name=":6" /> The Chief of Defence Staff is the highest-ranking uniformed officer on active duty in the Indian military and chief military adviser to the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]. The Chief also heads the [[Department of Military Affairs]]. The CDS is assisted by a vice-chief of defence staff, (the [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]].<ref name="direct" />)

The first Chief of Defence Staff, General [[Bipin Rawat]], took office on 1 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 December 2019|title=Gen Bipin Rawat named as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/gen-bipin-rawat-named-as-the-countrys-first-chief-of-defence-staff/articleshow/73028962.cms|access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref> The position was created with the aim of improving coordination, tri-service effectiveness and [[Jointness and integration in the Indian military|overall integration]] of the combat capabilities of the Indian armed forces.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/prime-minister-narendra-modi-chief-of-defence-staff-position-5908744/|title=Explained: Understanding post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)|last=Subramanian|first=Nirupama|date=16 August 2019|website=The Indian Express|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref> At the time of the creation of the post, no analogous position existed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20190902-enter-the-superchief-1590316-2019-08-23|title=Chief of Defence Staff: Can the new superchief call the shots?|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=23 August 2019|website=India Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823151734/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20190902-enter-the-superchief-1590316-2019-08-23|archive-date=23 August 2019|access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Singh|first=Rajneesh|date=Summer 2017|title=Harmonising Military–Bureaucracy Relations in Defence Ministry: Some Thought|url=https://www.claws.in/images/journals_doc/1684503031_08_chap(1)(1).pdf|journal=CLAWS Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816105926/https://www.claws.in/images/journals_doc/1684503031_08_chap(1)(1).pdf|archive-date=16 August 2019|via=[[Centre for Land Warfare Studies]]}}</ref>

Setting the stage for appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the government amended Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force, allowing retired Service Chiefs and three-star officers eligible for consideration for the country’s top military post. 

However, with an age limit that the retired officer should not have attained 62 years on the date of appointment, retired Service chiefs are largely ruled out, especially so for the present consideration. 

“The Central Government may, if considered necessary, in public interest, appoint as CDS, an officer who is serving as Lieutenant General or General or an officer who has retired in the rank of Lieutenant General or General but has not attained the age of 62 on the date of appointment,” the amendment in the Service Rules of the Army says in the gazette dated 6 June 2022. Similar amendment was made in the service rules of Navy and Air Force as well.<ref>{{Cite news |title= CDS selection pool widened: RTD, serving 3-star officers too eligible|date=7 June 2022 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-cds-selection-pool-lt-generals-air-marshals-vice-admirals-7957384/}}</ref>

On 28 Sep 2022, the Government decided to appoint Lt General [[Anil Chauhan]] (Retired) PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who shall also function as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs with effect from the date of his assumption of charge and until further orders.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1863084|title=Government appoints Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)|publisher=PIB|date=2022-09-28|access-date=2022-09-28}}</ref>

==History==

The post of the [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee]] (Chairman-CoSC) was created in 1947 as a precursor to the post of CDS, responsible for advice to the Defence Minister on all military matters.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Rej|first1=Abhijan|url=https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ORF_Occasional_Paper_Joint_Doctrine.pdf|title=India's Joint Doctrine: A Lost Opportunity|last2=Joshi|first2=Shashank|publisher=[[Observer Research Foundation]]|year=2018|isbn=9789387407497|pages=8}}</ref><ref name="Mehra_relinquishes">{{cite web|date=31 January 1976|title=Mehra Relinquishes Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairmanship|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1976-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1976-01-31_041.pdf|access-date=27 January 2020|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive}}</ref> The senior-most of the three service chiefs would be appointed Chairman CoSC.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Rahul|date=2019-12-24|title=Govt sets up Dept of Military Affairs to be headed by Chief of Defence Staff|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-sets-up-dept-of-military-affairs-to-be-headed-by-chief-of-defence-staff/story-eIC4HPIpbexJgGtpEfMaLI.html|access-date=2020-09-15|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

The need for a Chief of Defence Staff was felt as early as 1960s following wars with Pakistan and China.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Balan|first=Varun Ramesh|date=15 August 2019|title=A history of the demand for a Chief of Defence Staff|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/08/15/a-history-of-the-demand-for-a-chief-of-defence-staff.html|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Week}}</ref> Over the years the creation of such as post was raised.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Elkin|first1=Jerrold F.|last2=Ritezel|first2=W. Andrew|date=1984|title=The Debate on Restructuring India's Higher Defense Organization|journal=Asian Survey|volume=24|issue=10|pages=1069–1085|doi=10.2307/2644220|issn=0004-4687|jstor=2644220}}</ref> However, officially, it was only following the [[Kargil Review Committee]]'s recommendation in 1999 that the Group of Ministers (GoM) officially proposed the creation of the post of CDS in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pandit|first=Rajat|date=16 August 2016|title=India to finally get chief of defence staff, 20 yrs after it was mooted|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-to-finally-get-chief-of-defence-staff-20-yrs-after-it-was-mooted/articleshow/70693751.cms|access-date=2019-08-16|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Mukherjee|first=Anit|date=2019-08-21|title=A top post, its promise and peril|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-top-post-its-promise-and-peril/article29184760.ece|url-access=limited|access-date=2019-08-25|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Following committees, including the [[Naresh Chandra]] task force in 2012 and the Lieutenant General D. B. Shekatkar Committee in 2016, also proposed their own versions of a CDS.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pandit|first=Rajat|date=15 August 2019|title=PM Modi: India to have new post of Chief of Defence Staff|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-to-have-new-post-of-chief-of-defence-staff-pm-modi/articleshow/70686396.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-15|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815132713/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-to-have-new-post-of-chief-of-defence-staff-pm-modi/articleshow/70686396.cms |archive-date=15 August 2019 }}</ref> The process of consulting all parties involved began in 2006. In 2017, the [[Cabinet Committee on Security]] started the process of making the final decision related to the creation of a post for the CDS.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-may-soon-have-chief-of-defence-staff/articleshow/49762327.cms|title=India may soon have Chief of Defence Staff|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2018-07-11|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/ccs-to-take-final-decision-on-chief-of-defence-staff-post-3158222.html|title=CCS to take final decision on Chief of Defence Staff post|last=PTI|date=15 December 2016|website=Firstpost|access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://idsa.in/idsacomments/ChiefofDefenceStaffmustbeAppointedImmediately_gkanwal_121213|title=Chief of Defence Staff must be Appointed Immediately|last=Kanwal|first=Brig Gurmeet|date=12 December 2013|website=[[Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses]]|access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref>

The matter had opposition over the years on various fronts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/army-chief-bipin-rawat-may-be-first-chief-of-defence-staff-1565844486769.html|title=Army chief Bipin Rawat may be first chief of defence staff|last=Roche|first=Elizabeth|date=15 August 2019|website=Livemint|access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref> After the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|war of 1971]], [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]], Air Chief Marshal [[Pratap Chandra Lal]], had threatened to quit if the post of CDS was created.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Sinha|first=S.K.|date=2007|title=The Chief of Defence Staff|url=https://idsa.in/system/files/jds_1_1_sksinha.pdf|journal=Journal of Defence Studies|volume=1|issue=1|pages=133–137|via=Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses}}</ref> In 2001 the government was on the brink of making the then [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] Admiral, [[Sushil Kumar (admiral)|Sushil Kumar]], the CDS. A date had been fixed including other formalities. However, due to turf wars, among other reasons, the idea was scrapped.<ref name=":2" />

The official decision to create the position was made by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] during his [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]] speech on 15 August 2019 at the [[Red Fort]], in New Delhi.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|date=15 August 2019|title=PM Narendra Modi's mega announcement: India will now have Chief of Defence Staff|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-announces-chief-of-defence-staff-independence-day-speech-1581006-2019-08-15|access-date=2019-08-15|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|date=2019-08-15|title=Independence Day 2019 Live Updates- India will have a Chief of Defence Staff: PM Modi in I-Day speech|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/73rd-independence-day-2019-live-updates/story-5tbFeVZEMAVCOYyHTV6UnM.html|access-date=2019-08-15|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> Following the announcement, a committee was announced on 23 August 2019 under the [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]], consisting of the [[Cabinet Secretary of India|Cabinet Secretary]], the [[Defence Secretary of India|Defence Secretary]] and the [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee]] (C-COSC) among others, to make final the powers of the CDS. The committee was to submit its report within six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/committee-under-nsa-to-set-terms-for-cds-position/story-li74CKhSRIoBAT6zQlKxGI.html|title=NSA Ajit Doval-led panel to set terms for Chief of Defence Staff position|last=Shishir|first=Gupta|date=2019-08-23|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref> By November 2019, the committee had largely completed its tasks.<ref name="direct">{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-chief-of-defence-staff-will-direct-three-service-chiefs/story-r9sHOKiMmIoYemSlXODWPK.html|title=India's first Chief of Defence Staff will direct three service chiefs|last1=Gupta|first1=Shishir|date=19 November 2019|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref> On 24 December, the [[Cabinet Committee on Security]] (CCS) formally established the post of Chief of Defence Staff.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Som|first=Vishnu|author-link=Vishnu Som|date=24 December 2019|editor-last=Srinivasan|editor-first=Chandrashekar|title=India To Get Its First Chief of Defence Staff, Will Be A 4-Star General|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chief-of-defence-staff-india-to-get-its-first-chief-of-defence-staff-announcement-likely-soon-2153735|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224103107/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chief-of-defence-staff-india-to-get-its-first-chief-of-defence-staff-announcement-likely-soon-2153735|archive-date=24 December 2019|access-date=2019-12-24|website=NDTV}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Pandit|first=Rajat|date=24 December 2019|title=India to now get chief of defence staff, will be a 4-star general|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-to-now-get-chief-of-defence-staff-will-be-a-4-star-general/articleshow/72954105.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224112818/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-to-now-get-chief-of-defence-staff-will-be-a-4-star-general/articleshow/72954105.cms|archive-date=24 December 2019|access-date=2019-12-24|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

The first Chief of Defence Staff was General [[Bipin Rawat]] who took office on 1 January 2020.<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web|last=Ranjan|first=Rajeev|date=31 December 2019|editor-last=Nair|editor-first=Arun|title=General Bipin Rawat took over as Chief of Defence Staff, US Congratulates Him|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/general-bipin-rawat-to-be-chief-of-defence-staff-us-congratulates-him-2156608|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231052118/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/general-bipin-rawat-to-be-chief-of-defence-staff-us-congratulates-him-2156608|archive-date=31 December 2019|access-date=2019-12-31|website=NDTV}}</ref> On 15 December 2021, following the [[2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash|death of General Rawat]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 December 2021|title=IAF Helicopter Crash Live Updates: CDS Gen Bipin Rawat killed in chopper crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor, confirms IAF|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/iaf-helicopter-crash-live-updates-13-dead-as-chopper-with-cds-bipin-rawat-on-board-crashes-in-tamil-nadu/liveblog/88150787.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208114324/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/iaf-helicopter-crash-live-updates-13-dead-as-chopper-with-cds-bipin-rawat-on-board-crashes-in-tamil-nadu/liveblog/88150787.cms|archive-date=8 December 2021|access-date=2021-12-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> General [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]] was appointed [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]], pending the appointment of a new CDS.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhalla |first1=Abhishek |title=Old system till new CDS appointed: Gen Naravane as senior-most service chief fills in for Gen Bipin Rawat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/old-system-new-cds-army-chief-general-naravane-bipin-rawat-1888316-2021-12-16 |access-date=16 December 2021 |work=India Today |date=16 December 2021}}</ref> This decision was made, as there was no clear [[order of succession]] for the CDS.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kaushik|first1=Krishn|date=9 December 2021|title=Explained: No clear line of succession, CCS to decide on next CDS|work=|publisher=The Indian Express|location=New Delhi|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/general-bipin-rawat-dead-no-clear-line-of-succession-ccs-to-decide-on-next-cds-7663147/|url-access=registration|access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref>

==Functions==
At the time of creation of the post in December 2019, and as the permanent [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]], the CDS would implement integration and jointness of the three services, assign inter-services prioritisation to capital acquisition proposals, command the tri-service agencies, head the [[Department of Military Affairs (India)|Department of Military Affairs]] and be a member of overall defence planning among other responsibilities.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=24 December 2019|title=Cabinet approves creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of four star General|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1597425|access-date=2019-12-25|website=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=PTI|date=3 December 2019|title=Chief of defence staff to come under RTI Act; NSA-led panel submits report|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chief-of-defence-staff-to-come-under-rti-act-nsa-led-panel-submits-report/articleshow/72340708.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2019-12-03|website=The Times of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204064127/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chief-of-defence-staff-to-come-under-rti-act-nsa-led-panel-submits-report/articleshow/72340708.cms |archive-date=4 December 2019 }}</ref>

Among the first reforms proposed by the firsts CDS was the creation of an [[Air Defence Command (India)|Air Defence Command]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-02|title=Bipin Rawat holds meeting on creating Air Defence Command|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bipin-rawat-holds-meeting-on-creating-air-defence-command/article30463512.ece|access-date=2020-02-17|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Following the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]], the CDS emphasised the need to minimise costly defence imports, give a chance to domestic production even with only 70% of the general staff qualitative requirements, and not 'misrepresent operational requirements'.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-10|title=CDS General Bipin Rawat reiterates 'Make in India' for armed forces|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/cds-general-bipin-rawat-reiterates-make-in-india-for-armed-forces/articleshow/75653805.cms|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pandit|first=Rajat|date=10 May 2020|title=CDS Bipin Rawat: Forces must shun imports, go for 'Make In India', says Gen Bipin Rawat|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/forces-must-shun-imports-go-for-make-in-india-says-gen-bipin-rawat/articleshow/75652962.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510210142/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/forces-must-shun-imports-go-for-make-in-india-says-gen-bipin-rawat/articleshow/75652962.cms|archive-date=10 May 2020|access-date=2020-05-10|website=The Times of India}}</ref> In February 2020, the CDS announced the creation of joint military commands and theatre commands, [[Integrated Theatre Command|Integrated Theatre Commands]]; and that the process of theaterisation will be complete in a number of years.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|date=17 February 2020|title=CDS General Rawat unveils big ticket military reform agenda|work=The Economic Times|agency=PTI|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/cds-general-rawat-unveils-big-ticket-military-reform-agenda/articleshow/74176340.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dutta|first=Amrita Nayak|date=2020-02-04|title=India's joint military theatre command process to finish in 3 years, says CDS Bipin Rawat|url=https://theprint.in/defence/indias-joint-military-theatre-command-process-to-finish-in-3-years-says-cds-bipin-rawat/359711/|access-date=2020-10-06|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> Each command will have units from Army, Navy and Air-force working in synergy with each other.<ref name=":7" /> In September 2021, the CDS aired views on a prospective rocket or missile force.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-17|title=EXPLAINED: What Is A Rocket Force, Which Gen Rawat Says India Needs To Fight Battles Of The Future|url=https://www.news18.com/news/explainers/explained-what-is-a-rocket-force-which-gen-rawat-says-india-needs-to-fight-battles-of-the-future-4212896.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918051432/https://www.news18.com/news/explainers/explained-what-is-a-rocket-force-which-gen-rawat-says-india-needs-to-fight-battles-of-the-future-4212896.html|archive-date=18 September 2021|access-date=2021-09-22|website=News18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|authors=PTI|date=15 September 2021|title=India looking at creating rocket force: CDS Gen Rawat|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-looking-at-creating-rocket-force-cds-gen-rawat/articleshow/86241305.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915182721/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-looking-at-creating-rocket-force-cds-gen-rawat/articleshow/86241305.cms|archive-date=15 September 2021|access-date=2021-09-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Uniform and insignia==
While the Chief of Defence Staff wears the appropriately coloured uniform of their parent service, the gold-wreathed tri-service emblem of the Indian Armed Forces (the Naval anchor, crossed Army swords and Air Force eagle, all surmounted by the [[State Emblem of India|national emblem of India]]) is used in place of service insignia and unit emblems. The wreathed tri-service emblem is also substituted for service cap badges, uniform button and belt badge service insignia, shoulder flashes and the shoulder rank badges of a four-star officer with the four-star [[gorget patches]] similar to that used by a service chief. While the car pennant is that of the officer's parent service, the tri-service emblem is substituted for the rank stars.<ref>{{cite news|author=Bhalla, Abhishek|date=31 December 2019|title=Here is what CDS Gen Bipin Rawat's new uniform will look like|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/here-is-what-cds-gen-bipin-rawat-s-new-uniform-will-look-like-1632869-2019-12-31|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=1 January 2020|title=Army's Sword, IAF's Eagle and Navy's Anchor on Insignia of India's First CDS Bipin Rawat|work=News18|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/armys-sword-iafs-eagle-and-navys-anchor-on-insignia-as-bipin-rawat-takes-charge-as-indias-first-cds-2441909.html|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
{{multiple image
 | align = center
 | direction = horizantal
 | total_width = 750
 | image1 = Rank insignia for India CDS.svg
 | caption1 = Rank insignia
 | image2 = Indian CDS Peak Cap.jpg
 | caption2 = Peak Cap
 | image3 = Indian CDS Belt Buckle.jpg
 | caption3 = Belt Buckle
 | image4 = Indian CDS Buttons.jpg
 | caption4 = Buttons
}}

==Appointees==
;Key
{{dagger}} - Died in office

<nowiki>*</nowiki>-retired from a [[4-star rank]]

{{Officeholder table start
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| showimage              = y
| image_title            = Portrait
| officeholder_title     = Chief of Defence Staff
| showtermlenght         = y
| showparty              = n
| showdefencebranch      = y
| showref                = y
| showaltofficeholder    = y
| showpreviousoffice     = n
| alt_officeholder_title = [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]
| defence_branch_title   = Service branch
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                  = 1
| image                  = Bipin Rawat Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).jpg
| military_rank          = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder           = [[Bipin Rawat]]<br />{{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|YSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort      = Rawat, Bipin
| born_year              = 1958
| died_year              = 2021
| died                   = y
| term_start             = 1 January 2020
| term_end               = [[2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash|8 December 2021]]
| timeinoffice           = {{ayd|2020|01|01|2021|12|08}}
| defence_branch         = {{army|India}}
| alt_officeholder       = [[Rajnath Singh]]
| alt_officeholder_sort  = Singh, Rajnath
| alt_officeholder_party = 
| ref                    = <ref name="ndtv"/><ref name=cds>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|access-date=8 December 2021 |title=Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife among 13 killed in chopper crash|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-chopper-crashes-in-tamil-nadu-bipin-rawat-was-reportedly-on-board/articleshow/88161974.cms|website=The Economic Times}}</ref>
}}
! colspan=9| Vacant<br />{{small|(9 December 2021–29 September 2022)}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                  = 2
| image                  = Anil Chauhan Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).jpg
| military_rank          = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder           = [[Anil Chauhan]] <br />{{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}
| officeholder_sort      = Chauhan, Anil
| born_year              = 1961
| died_year              = 
| died                   = n
| term_start             = 30 September 2022 
| term_end               = ''Incumbent''
| timeinoffice           = {{ayd|2022|9|30}}
| defence_branch         = {{army|India}}
| alt_officeholder       = [[Rajnath Singh]]
| alt_officeholder_sort  = Singh, Rajnath
| alt_officeholder_party = 
| ref                    = <ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1863084|title=Government appoints Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)|publisher=PIB|date=2022-09-28}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

== See also ==
* [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
* [[Chief of the General Staff (India)|Chief of the General Staff]]
* [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief of India]]
* [[Defence Secretary (India)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|35em}}
;Books
* {{Cite book|last=Mukherjee|first=Anit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=45KwDwAAQBAJ|title=The Absent Dialogue: Politicians, Bureaucrats, and the Military in India|date=2019|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-090590-3|language=en}}

;Think-tanks and journals
* {{Cite web|last=Patil|first=Sameer|date=2021-12-16|title=The legacy of India's first CDS|url=https://www.gatewayhouse.in/the-legacy-of-indias-first-cds/|access-date=|website=|publisher=Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Kumar|first=Brig (Retd) V Jai|date=12 January 2021|editor-last=Bajwa|editor-first=Lt Gen JS|title=Chief of Defence Staff – Game Changer or Damp Squib?|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/chief-of-defence-staff-game-changer-or-damp-squib/|journal=Indian Defence Review|volume=36|issue=1}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Ahuja|first=Anil|date=1 January 2021|title=Institution of the Chief of Defence Staff: Evaluating the First Year|url=https://www.delhipolicygroup.org/uploads_dpg/publication_file/institution-of-the-chief-of-defence-staff-evaluating-the-first-year-2145.pdf|journal=DPG Policy Brief|publisher=Delhi Policy Group|volume=6|issue=1}}
* {{Citation|last=Venkataraman|first=R|title=Chief of Defence Staff, a year later: Lack of Clarity and an ambiguous Mandate|date=25 January 2021|url=https://www.thepeninsula.org.in/2021/01/25/chief-of-defence-staff-a-year-later-lack-of-clarity-and-an-ambiguous-mandate/?print=pdf|publisher=The Peninsula Foundation, Tamil Nadu}}

;Articles
* {{Cite web|last=Panag|first=Lt Gen H S|author-link=H. S. Panag|date=20 June 2019|title=Modi must appoint chief of defence staff – and prove India's political class isn't fearful|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/modi-must-appoint-chief-of-defence-staff-and-prove-indias-political-class-isnt-fearful/252274/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815035745/https://theprint.in/opinion/modi-must-appoint-chief-of-defence-staff-and-prove-indias-political-class-isnt-fearful/252274/|archive-date=15 August 2019|website=The Print}}
{{refend}}
== External links ==
*

{{Chief of Defence Staff (India)}}
{{Military of India}}
{{Chief of military by country}}

[[Category:Ministry of Defence (India)]]
[[Category:Indian Army]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]
[[Category:Chiefs of defence|India]]