Army chief Gen MM Naravane takes over as chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee

New Delhi: In a bid to ensure synergy among the three forces ( army, navy and air) after the death of CDS General Bipin Rawat, the Centre has placed in an old system and appointed Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Sources say this is only a stopgap arrangement till the new CDS is appointed. "It is a procedural step that in the absence of a CDS, the senior-most chief takes over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee," said an official.

The old system was in practice before creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff two years ago.

The post fell vacant following the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat in the IAF helicopter crash on December 8. General MM Naravane has been given the charge as the chairman of the committee as he is the senior-most among the three service chiefs, the people cited above said.

As per reports, Ravane would look after the better coordination and co-operative practices among the three services.

The post of CDS was created in 2019 on the recommendations of a committee of defence experts headed by Lt. General D.B. Shekatkar.

The government after creating the post had stated that the CDS will head the Department of Military Affairs within the Ministry of Defence.

It had also stated that the CDS will also be the permanent chairman of the existing Chiefs of Staff Committee and a member of the Defence Acquisition Council and the Defence Planning Committee.

The CDS has a responsibility for coordination among the three services in equipment and arms procurement, training and staffing.

This should help bring about better synergy between the forces and to prioritise requirements and optimise the use of resources, especially at a time the military budget is shrinking. The CDS functions as the single point of military advice to the government.