The Modi government refers to the cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who became the 14th Prime Minister of India in May 2014. The government is headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a coalition of political parties.
Under Modi’s leadership, the government has focused on transformative initiatives aimed at economic growth, infrastructure development, and national security. Some of the landmark policies include the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), demonetisation of high-value currency notes in 2016, and the controversial revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which ended the region’s special status. The Modi government has also emphasized initiatives such as ‘Make in India,’ ‘Digital India,’ ‘Skill India,’ and the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (Clean India Mission).
While it has received praise for boosting economic growth and improving infrastructure, it has also faced significant criticism. Its handling of the anti-CAA protests, the 2020 farmers’ protests, and issues surrounding the delivery of data—such as the absence of a national census and the lack of transparency regarding COVID-19 death tolls—has sparked public debate. The government has also been criticized for its response to social issues, such as the Hathras rape case and the conflict in Manipur.
Despite these challenges, the Modi government, now in its third term, continues to maintain a dominant political presence, securing electoral victories at both state and national levels.
The success of any change lies in clarity of thought, vision, depth, simplicity and implementation..any half hearted effort defeats the very purpose of a meaningful step..the amplification notes covering the responsibilities and functions of CDS is a case in point
1. The Raksha Mantri must be from the Defence Services
2. The RM heads the Ministry of Defence and reports to the PM
3. Abolish the post of Vice Chiefs..create 3 posts Secretary Army, Navy and Air Force, of Lt Gens and equivalent rank
4. The MOD to have a mix of combatants and civilian experts in respective domains, with 2/3 representation from Defence Services
5. This organization will have streamlined functionality without any ambiguities
6. The uniformed personnel would have served in field formations and thus the Babu mentality, armchair expertise and turf wars will be eliminated
7. The principal of Command and Staff is adequately balanced with Chiefs and Secretaries reporting to RM who in turn reports to PM
Two views are possible on whether Raksha Mantri should be from the armed forces. From 1947 onwards, the political system has been very clear about creating a firewall between the civilian government and the armed forces. The Editor drew a lot of flak for a story about what almost happened on one cold, foggy night in January some years ago. I tend to believe at least the part which said that the government was spooked out of its wits.
The CDS will do no harm, possibly do a lot of good, in terms of coordination and creating “ jointness “. Why three service Chiefs – who were batchmates at NDA – cannot sit together regularly and achieve the same desirable object is a mystery. The system of the senior most of them being Chairman was a healthy practice. One would expect Raksha Mantri to meet regularly with all three officers and improve coordination. That would in fact be his primary task.
The three service Chiefs do not accept – partly on account of Warrant of Precedence – the Defence Secretary to be their boss, in the way that DGPs of states, somewhat grudgingly, accept the Home Secretary to be. So it is intriguing that their CDS will now be one of a number of Secretaries in MoD where the DS is clearly the head, in the manner that the Finance Secretary leads a team of Secretaries in MoF.
For CDS to have been a five star officer, with the three service Chiefs reporting to him operationally, is an impractical idea the government has fortunately not bought into. It would have reduced those three prime officers to subordinates, unable to lead their services with the kind of ultimate authority their posts require. Just a stray thought. If the government had offered Lt Gen Naravane a choice between COAS and CDS, which honour would he have selected ?