Everything about CDS post in India

About CDS post

• Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) is the military head and 

chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces.

• The Chief of Defence Staff is the senior-most and highest-ranking uniformed officer 

on active duty in the Indian military, and is the principal staff officer and chief 

military adviser to the Minister of Defence. 

• The Chief also heads the Department of Military Affairs. The first Chief of Defence 

Staff was Mr Bipin Rawat who took office on 1 January 2020, and held it until his 

death in a helicopter crash on 8 December 2021. 

• The CDS is a four-star officer selected from among the serving officers of the Indian 

Armed Forces.

• While being "first among equals" among the service chiefs, the CDS is a single-point 

military advisor to the defence minister.

• The CDS is assisted by a deputy, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. The CDS heads 

the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence, as its secretary. 

• Apart from heading the DMA, the CDS is the Permanent Chairperson of the Chiefs of 

Staff Committee (PC-CoSC). 

• The position of the Chief of Defence Staff was created with the aim of improving 

coordination, tri-service effectiveness and overall integration of the combat 

capabilities of the Indian armed forces.