Indian armed forces are set to undergo a massive reform withthe formation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff, the top-most defenceofficer of the country who will be the one-point reference for India’s PrimeMinister on all defence-related matters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcedthe decision to have a Chief of Defence Staff - a position senior to the Chiefof Army Staff,  Chief of the Air Staff,and Chief of the Naval Staff - during his speech on India's 73rd IndependenceDay from New Delhi's Red Fort on Thursday.

"Our defence forces are India's pride. With a view toensure and further sharpen coordination between the forces, I want to announcea major decision from the Red Fort. India will have a Chief of Defence Staff -CDS which is going to make the forces even more effective," said PM Modi.The decision once again showed his resolve to take tough decisions in thecountry's interest.

One of the lacunae often pointed out by defence experts inthe Indian defence forces is the absence of the single-point reference fordefence issues. The creation of CDS has been a demand for the last few decadesto achieve better coordination among the Indian Army, Indian Air Force andIndian Navy. Faced with two hostile neighbours - Pakistan of the west and Chinein the north and east - India needs a better coordinated defence commandstructure. Currently, India's senior-most defence officer is appointed as theChairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee until the officer retires. Indian AirForce chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa is the present Chairman ofthe Chiefs of Staff Committee.

The Narendra Modi government during its first term had on April18, 2019, established the Defence Planning Committee (DPC). The committee worksunder the National Security Advisor and has the Chairman of the Chiefs of StaffCommittee, the Army, IAF and Navy chiefs along with the defence, expenditureand foreign secretaries as its members.

Following the 1999 Kargil War, a review committee was set upby the then government of prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The KargilReview Committee report was then analysed by a group of ministers (GoM) headedby the then deputy prime minister LK Advani which had recommended the formationof CDS post with a tri-Service joint planning staff headquarters.