Cabinet Committee on Security approves creation of Chief of Defence Staff position

The panel also approved the report of a high-level committee, headed by Ajit Doval, which finalised the responsibilities and framework for the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day in New Delhi. | Arun Sharma | PTI

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday approved the creation of a chief of defence staff (CDS), who will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999, official sources said.

The CCS also approved the report of a high-level committee, headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, which finalised responsibilities and the enabling framework for the CDS, they said.

In a landmark military reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced that India will have a CDS as head of the tri-services.

Days after the prime minister’s announcement, an Implementation Committee headed by Doval was appointed to finalise an enabling framework and determine the exact responsibilities for the CDS.