Focus on Air Defence Command as CDS holds first meeting
03 Jan 2020
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Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat who got down to business in earnest, holding his first meeting on Thursday, has issued directions that a proposal to create Air Defence Command should be prepared by 30 June.
He also set out priorities for the execution of synergy in forces by 30 June and 31 December 2020.
The CDS has targeted creation of common logistics support pools at stations having presence of two or more services.
The Department of Military Affairs will be looking after the work of the armed forces, namely Army, Navy and the Air Force. The Territorial Army and the works related to the Army, Navy and Air Force will also fall under the department.
Except capital acquisitions, it will also handle procurement exclusive to the services. The CDS will go in for joint planning over procurement, training and staffing for the services. He has been tasked with facilitation of restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about joint efforts in operations through establishment of theatre commands. He will be promoting use of indigenous equipment by the services.
The defence secretary will be looking after the Coast Guard, including surveillance of maritime zones against oil spills and combating oil spills in various maritime zones. The Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services will be under the Defence Secretary. The National Cadet Corps, Remount Corps, Veterinary Corps and Canteen Stores Department will also be with him. Hydrographic surveys and preparation of navigational charts, formation of cantonments, delimitation of cantonment areas will also be with the Defence Secretary.
He would also have powers for the acquisition, requisitioning and custody of land and property for defence purposes. The Defence Accounts Department, the purchase of food stuff for military requirement, Border Roads Development Board and Border Roads Organisation, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis and National Defence College will be with the Defence Secretary.
The CDS has emphasised on a collegiate system of functioning and directed that all three services and the Coast Guard must be consulted and their views obtained in a time bound manner. Decisions will, however, be taken to ensure optimisation of resources. Efforts will be made to cut out infructuous ceremonial activities, which are manpower intensive.
The CDS stressed that all must work towards accomplishing desired results and coming up with healthy views and ideas.
President Ram Nath Kovind has notified new rules of business, defining the responsibilities of the newly created Department of Military Affairs and the tasks laid out for the Defence Secretary. The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat. The government has maintained that the Defence Secretary will be responsible for the job of ‘defence of India’ and preparation for defence which is ‘conducive in times of war’.
