General Bipin Rawat On New Role As Chief Of Defence Staff: Will Plan Strategy

New Delhi:

Outgoing Army Chief Bipin Rawat, who is set to take over as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) today, has said that he would “plan his strategy” for the new role after assuming the position.

“The position Chief of Army Staff has many responsibilities. Till now, I was concentrating on my obligations as Chief of Army Staff. Now that I will have a new designation, I will sit and plan a strategy for future. I will fulfill my role as Chief of Army Staff till the handover,” he told reporters this morning after paying tribute at the National War Memorial in Delhi.

General Rawat will take over as the Chief of Defence Staff today, the same day he retires as the Army Chief, in a move announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day. As the CDS, General Rawat would be in direct contact with the Prime Minister on security issues and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force would report to him. He would head the Department of Military Affairs and paid a salary equivalent to a service chief.

In his new role, he would be expected to integrate the operations of the armed forces and trim the weapons procurement procedures.

The United States and Maldives were among the first countries that congratulated General Rawat on his appointment.

Lt General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, succeeds General Bipin Rawat. On expectations from his successor, he said, “I am confident he’ll take Army to greater heights”. 

The chief of defence staff can serve till the age of 65.