Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
India's Apex Military Office
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister and the Cabinet Committee on Security, and the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The CDS post was created on the recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee (2000) and established on January 1, 2020 — with General Bipin Rawat as India's first CDS.
- Role of CDS: Advises on all inter-service matters; heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) within the Ministry of Defence; facilitates jointness and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Theatre Commands: The CDS is responsible for creating integrated theatre commands to replace the current single-service command structure; the maritime theatre command and air defence theatre command are in advanced planning stages.
- CDS vs Chiefs of Staff: The Army, Navy, and Air Force Chiefs retain operational command of their services; the CDS provides joint institutional leadership above the service level.
- General Anil Chauhan became India's second CDS in September 2022 following the death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in December 2021.
- The CDS's overseas visits carry significant signalling value — indicating India's strategic interest in a country at the highest defence institutional level.
● Tracked since February 02, 2026 · last seen May 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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