Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Appointment Of Chief Of Defence Staff: A Historic Decision
India Strategic
|September 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rousing Independence Day address delivered from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort covered many issues relating to reforms and development in India.
Among the several key announcements made by the prime minister was the creation of the post of chief of defence staff (CDS), which he described as “a very important and compelling task”. Lauding the role of the army, navy and the air force, he added that the institution of CDS would provide a better direction for higher defence management.
The decision to appoint CDS is an important milestone in india's quest for complete integration of its defence forces; a significant step towards seamless coordination, better efficiency and greater effectiveness of the national defence architecture in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
The Modi government has been bold and far-sighted in dealing with the subject of integration. It may be recalled that the first and only tri-service theatre andaman and nicobar command (ANC) and the headquarters integrated defence staff (HQ IDS) were also the creation of a bjp-led government in 2001. In 2018, prime minister modi took additional steps toward further integration by establishing agencies for space and cyber, as also the special operations division under chairman, chiefs of staff committee, which until now has been a largely ceremonial post held by the senior-most service chief by rotation.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of India Strategic.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM India Strategic
India Strategic
IAF seeks Rs. 2 lakh crore deal for 114 'Make in India' Rafale jets after Operation Sindoor success
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets under a 'Make in India' plan, a deal estimated to be worth around Rs. 2 lakh crore.
1 min
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
Defence Minister inaugurates TASL's defence manufacturing facility in Morocco for production of Wheeled Armoured Platform
NEW DELHI. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister of Morocco Abdelatif Loudyi jointly inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems Limited's (TASL) state-of-the-art defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, Morocco, on September 23, 2025.
2 mins
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
INS Udaygırı, INS Himgiri commissioned into Indian Navy, boosting self-reliance in warship building
VISAKHAPATNAM. In a landmark moment for India's indigenous defence manufacturing, two state-of-the-art multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, were commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 26 at the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam.
2 mins
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
DRDO conducts maiden flight-tests of Indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on August 23 successfully carried out the first flight-tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast, the Defence Ministry stated in a press release.
1 min
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
HAL Tejas Mk1A Programme Takes Off with resumed GE-404 IN20 Engine Supplies But That's Not Enough
WITH HAL getting the first four GE F404-IN20 engines in Sep-Oct this year, against a 2021 order, its temporarily stalled programme for IAF's LCA Mk 1A aircraft seems to be back steam.
2 mins
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
Zuppa and QuBeats announce strategic collaboration to develop nextgeneration quantum navigation solutions for defence applications
NEW DELHI. Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies Pvt. Ltd., India's leading indigenous drone manufacturer and navigation systems developer, announced a strategic partnership with QuBeats (a registered trademark of M/s Nostradamus Technologies Private Limited) through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-develop and deliver next-generation quantum-assured navigation solutions for Zuppa's unmanned aerial systems.
1 min
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
India's doctrinal revolution: From strategic restraint to offensive deterrence
DEFENCE MINISTER Rajnath Singh's address at the inaugural RAN SAMWAD-2025 symposium marked a watershed moment in India's military evolution, signalling a fundamental shift from Mahanian sea control to Corbettian sea denial while embracing what he termed the “triangle of technology, strategy, and adaptability”.
4 mins
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
Navy launches third Diving Support Craft ‘DSC A 22’ in Kolkata
KOLKATA. The Indian Navy launched DSC A 22, the third vessel under its series of five Diving Support Crafts (DSC), at Titagarh, West Bengal, on September 12.
1 min
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
Krishna Defence is a critical enabler for special steels: Ankur Shah
Krishna Defence and Allied Industries Limited (KDAIL) represents a strategic evolution in India's defence manufacturing landscape.
4 mins
Sept-Oct 2025
India Strategic
India-UK ties a pillar of global stability: PM Modi
MUMBAI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described India's partnership with the United Kingdom as a “trustworthy and transformative” alliance built on shared values and mutual strengths, calling it a vital foundation for global peace and prosperity.
1 mins
Sept-Oct 2025
Translate
Change font size