Chief of defence staff age limit

The notification comes in the backdrop of Rawat retiring on December 31. According to the existing rules, an Army Chief has a tenure of three years or upto the retirement age of 62 years, whichever is earlier. Although Rawat is yet to reach the age of 62 years, he is retiring because he is completing his tenure of three years as Army Chief. Meanwhile, another change in the army rules is that the expression ‘General’ will be used both for the Army Chief and the CDS. The same rule applies for the air force and navy as well. The expression ‘Admiral’ will be used both for the Navy Chief and if the CDS is a naval officer, while ‘Air Chief Marshal’ will be used both the Air Force Chief and if the CDS is an air force officer. The changes follow after a pre-scheduled ceremony of the transfer of the baton of the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) was postponed on Friday. Rawat was to hand over the baton to Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh. The COSC consists of the chiefs of the three defence services, and the senior-most amongst them heads it until he retires. The Union Cabinet on December 24 had approved the post and charter of the CDS, who will be a four-star General, the principal military advisor to the defence minister and head the new Department of Military Affairs to ensure jointness in training, logistics and procurement of the three services. The CDS will also administer all tri-services organisations, comprising personnel from the army, air force and navy, ...

The Centre on Sunday announced 65 as the retirement age for the newly created post of the Chief of Defence Staff, who would be the head of the Department of Military Affairs under the Defence Ministry. The age limit for the CDS has been put in place by amending the rules and regulations under the Army Act, 1950; Navy Act, 1957 and Air Force Act, 1950. Currently, the three Service Chief retire at 62. If one of them becomes the CDS, as per the new rule, he would be able to serve till 65. The government is yet to name the CDS, but the outgoing Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat is widely speculated to be the first CDS, who would be having an over-arching role in policy, planning and procurement for the three services besides having a leadership position in space and cyber warfare activities. In addition, the CDS would be a military advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority headed by the Prime Minister and permanent chairman to the Chief of Staff Committee (COSC). In the absence of a name for CDS, the defence ministry on Friday postponed a function in which the chairman, COSC was to hand over the baton to his successor. Being the senior-most of the three Service Chiefs, Gen Rawat currently chairs the COSC. In case he is appointed as the CDS, he would continue to keep the baton for the next three years. One of the long-awaited reforms in Indian higher defence management, the government's decision to establish the post of CDS was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his i...

This is the first instance since independence, of a three-star Lieutenant General rank officer taking over as a four-star General after retirement. Also read | Gen Chauhan laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and later inspected a tri-service Guard of Honour on South Block lawns before formally assuming charge. He later called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his South Block office. Gen Chauhan has a huge task of taking forward the transformation and reorganisation of the armed forces, stalled due to the death of Gen Rawat. Top among them is the reorganisation of the military into theatre commands, on which consensus among the military remains elusive even after extensive deliberations over two years. For instance, after extensive studies and table top exercises, the Air Force has put forward the view that a separate air defence command would be “counter-productive.” He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981 and has served a range of staff and operational appointments including that of Director General of Military Operations. Gen Chauhan took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command in September 2019 which he held until his retirement from service on May 31, 2021. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Anil Chauhan inspects tri-service guard of honour before assuming charge, in New Delhi on September 30, 2022. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As per charter, the CDS is a four-star General with salary and perq...

The government has issued a gazette modifying the Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force to enable the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and fixing the upper age limit at 65. “They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette,” the gazette says. The Centre amended the Army Rules 1954, Naval (Discipline and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1965, Naval Ceremonial, Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous Regulations, 1963 and Air Force Regulations, 1964. “The service regulations have been amended and not the Acts and it is the logical step after the Union Cabinet last week approved the creation of the post of CDS,” an Army officer said. CDS tenure not fixed However, the tenure of the CDS has not been fixed. The service chiefs have a tenure of three years or 62 years of age whichever is earlier and it remains unchanged. Last week, in anticipation of the announcement of the CDS, the Defence Ministry cancelled the handing over ceremony of the Baton of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), to this week. In the race Outgoing Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, who is also in the race of the CDS, is set to superannuate on December 31. The Union Cabinet had last week approved the creation of the post who will be a four-star General and will function as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as the Permanent Chairman of the COSC.

The government has amended the Army Rules, 1954, increasing the age limit for the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from 62 to 65, the Defence Ministry said in a notification on Sunday, 29 December, reported news agency ANI. According to rules, the service chiefs can serve for a maximum period of three years or till the age of 62, whichever is early, reports ANI. This amendment may clear the way for General Bipin Rawat – who is retiring as Army Chief and turning 62 in March 2020 – to be appointed the first CDS. The government approved the creation of post of chief of defence staff (CDS) and the officer to be appointed to the post will be a four-star general and will also head the department of military affairs, Union minister Prakash Javadekar had announced on Tuesday, 24 December. According to government sources cited by ANI, the armed forces will fall under the ambit of department of military affairs, which will be headed by CDS and and will have appropriate expertise to manage military affairs. The department is supposed to have an appropriate mix of civilian and military officers. “CDS will act as principal military advisor to defence minister on tri-services matters. The three chiefs will continue to advise defence minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective services… The CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three service chiefs.” Government sources, as quoted by ANI The sources further said that the CDS would not be eligib...

• Chiefs of Staff Committee • • Defence Acquisition Council • • Reports to Appointer 3 years, or until the age of 65. Formation 1January 2020 ;3 years ago ( 2020-01-01) First holder , , , , , , Deputy Website The Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces ( CDS) is the The first Chief of Defence Staff, General Setting the stage for appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the government amended Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force, allowing retired Service Chiefs and three-star officers eligible for consideration for the country’s top military post. However, with an age limit that the retired officer should not have attained 62 years on the date of appointment, retired Service chiefs are largely ruled out, especially so for the present consideration. “The Central Government may, if considered necessary, in public interest, appoint as CDS, an officer who is serving as Lieutenant General or General or an officer who has retired in the rank of Lieutenant General or General but has not attained the age of 62 on the date of appointment,” the amendment in the Service Rules of the Army says in the gazette dated 6 June 2022. Similar amendment was made in the service rules of Navy and Air Force as well. On 28 Sep 2022, the Government decided to appoint Lt General History [ ] The post of the The need for a Chief of Defence Staff was felt as early as 1960s following wars with Pakistan and China. The matter had opposition over the years on various fronts. The o...

In a precursor to the announcement of who India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will be, a gazette notification issued on Saturday set 65 as the maximum serving age for India’s “first among equals” in the armed forces. Current Army chief General Bipin Rawat is widely expected to be named country’s first CDS, who will head the department of military affairs in the defence ministry and act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all tri-services matters.(HT File Photo/ Representative Image) The appointment of a CDS was cleared by the government on December 24. The government has not announced the name of the country’s first CDS, but serving army chief General Bipin Rawat is widely seen as the front-runner for the top post. He finishes his term as army chief on December 31. “Provided that the Central Government may, if considered necessary, in public interest , so to do, give extension of service to the Chief of Defence Staff…for such period or periods as it may deem necessary subject to maximum age of 65 years,” said the notification, which comes under the Army (Amendment Rules) 2019. ALSO WATCH | Chief of Defence Staff: Cabinet clears new post for military advice to govt It puts CDS on a par with the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chief Election Commissioner and the Central Vigilance Commissioner in terms of retirement age. The three service chiefs end their term after three years of service or when they turn 62, whichever is earlier. The Uni...

The government has amended the Army rules to change the retirement age of tri-Service chief and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to 65 years, according to a notification issued by the Defence Ministry. The decision to amend the rules has been taken so aservice chief can be appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after retirement. The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved setting up of Department of Military Affairs within the Ministry of Defence to be headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) having the rank of a 4-Star General. The Chief of Defence Staff will have salary equivalent to Service Chiefs and will function as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs. According to government sources, outgoing Army Chief General Bipin Rawat is likely to be named the first CDS. Gen Rawat is due for retirement on December 31. The Cabinet has also defined the role and responsibilities of the CDS. The CDS will be the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and will be supported by the Integrated Defence Staff in this role. As per the charter of duties, the CDS will also be the member of the Nuclear Command Authority headed by the Prime Minister. The CDS will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister on tri-Services matters. The three Chiefs will continue to advise the Defence Minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services. CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs.

• Chiefs of Staff Committee • • Defence Acquisition Council • • Reports to Appointer 3 years, or until the age of 65. Formation 1January 2020 ;3 years ago ( 2020-01-01) First holder , , , , , , Deputy Website The Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces ( CDS) is the The first Chief of Defence Staff, General Setting the stage for appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the government amended Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force, allowing retired Service Chiefs and three-star officers eligible for consideration for the country’s top military post. However, with an age limit that the retired officer should not have attained 62 years on the date of appointment, retired Service chiefs are largely ruled out, especially so for the present consideration. “The Central Government may, if considered necessary, in public interest, appoint as CDS, an officer who is serving as Lieutenant General or General or an officer who has retired in the rank of Lieutenant General or General but has not attained the age of 62 on the date of appointment,” the amendment in the Service Rules of the Army says in the gazette dated 6 June 2022. Similar amendment was made in the service rules of Navy and Air Force as well. On 28 Sep 2022, the Government decided to appoint Lt General History [ ] The post of the The need for a Chief of Defence Staff was felt as early as 1960s following wars with Pakistan and China. The matter had opposition over the years on various fronts. The o...

The government has issued a gazette modifying the Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force to enable the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and fixing the upper age limit at 65. “They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette,” the gazette says. The Centre amended the Army Rules 1954, Naval (Discipline and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1965, Naval Ceremonial, Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous Regulations, 1963 and Air Force Regulations, 1964. “The service regulations have been amended and not the Acts and it is the logical step after the Union Cabinet last week approved the creation of the post of CDS,” an Army officer said. CDS tenure not fixed However, the tenure of the CDS has not been fixed. The service chiefs have a tenure of three years or 62 years of age whichever is earlier and it remains unchanged. Last week, in anticipation of the announcement of the CDS, the Defence Ministry cancelled the handing over ceremony of the Baton of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), to this week. In the race Outgoing Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, who is also in the race of the CDS, is set to superannuate on December 31. The Union Cabinet had last week approved the creation of the post who will be a four-star General and will function as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as the Permanent Chairman of the COSC.