Gen Rawat Appointed Chief of Defence Staff – What Does It Mean?

What does General Rawat’s appointment as CDS mean? And what challenges lie ahead for him?

What does Rawat’s appointment as CDS mean? What changes will take place in the Indian military? And what challenges lie ahead for him?

(Image: Altered by The Quint)

General Bipin Rawat was set to hang up his spurs and retire from the Indian Army on 31 December having served as its chief for 3 whole years.

However, just a day before that, with just one notification, Modi government ensured General Rawat gets to wear his olive green uniform for a few more years. But this time, as India’s newest and first CDS AKA Chief of Defence Staff, the first position of its kind in the country's armed forces.

This new role allows Gen Rawat to don not just one, but two hats – one as permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee which has the chiefs of the three services as members, and the other of the head of the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Defence ministry.

What does Rawat’s appointment as CDS mean? What changes will take place in the Indian military? And what challenges lie ahead for him?

Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, Commodore C Uday Bhaskar, and Strategic Affairs analyst and Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Manoj Joshi explain.