In December 2021, the country's first Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat died in an accident in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. General Bipin Rawat was the first 'Chief of Defense Staff' of the country, who was appointed to this post in the year 2019.
The CDS serves as the permanent chairman of the 'Chief of Staff Committee' in which the heads of the three services will also be members. Its main task is to promote greater operational synergy among the tri-services of the Indian Army and to keep the inter-service conflict to a minimum.
He is also the head of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defense. He will act as the principal military adviser to the Defense Minister on the matters of the three armies, but at the same time the chiefs of the three services will continue to advise the Defense Minister in relation to their armies.
As the head of the DMA, the CDS is empowered to prioritize inter- service procurement decisions as the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The CDS has also been empowered to give directions to the three chiefs. However, he does not have the right to command any army.
The rank of CDS is the first among the counterparts, he has the rank of secretary within the DoD (Department of Defense) and his powers will be limited to the revenue budget only.
