India News
Chief of Defence Staff: From powers to eligibility criteria to tenure, here’s what we know
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the military head and chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces. Read to know its powers, eligibility criteria, tenure and more.
By Kritika Bobal
The untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the IAF helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu throws up multiple challenges for the BJP government to who will fill the place of the highest level of the military hierarchy.
With one year remaining in his tenure, it is the biggest task for the government to whom to hand over the top army position and choose the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
In January 2020, General Rawat had taken over the charge as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.
Who is CDS? Why is it a dual-hatted role: What does that mean?
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the military head and chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces- Army, Navy, and Air Force. CDS is considered a dual-hatted role because CDS wears two hats- One he is the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee which includes the three service chiefs and the other as head of the ministry’s newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA).
Does CDS command the three service chiefs?
No. The three service chiefs- Army, Navy, and Air Force continues to advise the Defence Ministry on matters concerning their respective services. So, the government has also stated that the CDS does not have any military authority, including command over the three service chiefs. The service chiefs, on the other hand, are serving the Chiefs of Staff Committee, which is chaired by the CDS.
Have the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force lost any powers to CDS?
No, none of the service chiefs’ powers, including advising the government, have been transferred to the CDS. The three service chiefs continue to carry out the orders of the Defence Ministry, which is responsible for drafting them, obtaining government approval, and communicating them to the defense services for implementation.
Powers of Chief of Defence Staff
- He is the Defense Minister’s Principal Military Advisor on all tri-Services issues.
- He serves as the Atomic Command Authority’s military advisor.
- The CDS does not have any military authority.
- The CDS is a member of the Defense Acquisition Council, which is chaired by the Defense Minister.
- He is the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
- CDS also serves as the head of the Department of Military Affairs.
Eligibility Criteria for CDS
Officers who are qualified for the CDS must possess a four-star General rank in the Indian Army or an equivalent position in the Indian Air Force (Air Chief Marshal) or the Indian Navy (Admiral), according to the guidelines.
As a result, all three service chiefs and the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy commands are entitled to become a CDS.
Tenure of Chief of Defence Staff
A CDS can now serve until the age of 65 under new military standards. The three Service heads will serve until they reach the age of 62 or three years, whichever is earlier.
Who is likely to be appointed as the next CDS?
Army Chief General MM Naravane, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar are all being considered for the position of CDS. MM Naravane is the frontrunner for the post of CDS among the three candidates.
India News
Madhya Pradesh elections: Congress to release first list of candidates after October 5
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections draw nearer, sources stated on Friday that the Congress is expected to reveal its first list of candidates after October 5 as part of its strategy. A Congress source told IANS that the party will announce the names of the candidates at the ideal moment and that the campaigning for the Assembly elections is already underway.
The source stated that the party would issue its initial list of candidates after October 5, when it is anticipated that the Election Commission will have released its polling schedule.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s general secretary, will be in the state on October 5 to speak at a large public gathering, the source added, and her input will be sought before the release of the final list.
To narrow down the field of candidates for the elections, the party organised two sessions of the Screening Committee in the national capital.
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will speak at a public meeting on Saturday in the Kala Pipla Assembly seat.
Two lists of candidates from the BJP have already been made public for the upcoming elections. Along with four other current MPs, the ruling party has included three Union Ministers in its second list. On Monday, a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a public gathering in Bhopal, the second list of 39 candidates was made public.
The list also included Kailash Vijayvargiya, the national general secretary of the BJP.
The list includes the names of three Union Ministers: Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti from Narsinghpur; Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Party’s State Election Management Committee from Dimni-Morena; and Fagan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel from Niwas.
India News
President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Women’s Reservation Bill
The new law provides 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became law in India after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, days after the historic vote in the Parliament. The new law provides 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. However, the law will be imposed after the new census and delimitation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill which is officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in both the houses during the special session of the Parliament. The historic bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20, with 454 MPs voting in its favour and 2 voting against it. In the Rajya Sabha, the bill was passed unanimously on September 21 with 214 MPs voting in favour of the bill.
Issuing a gazette notification, the Government of India stated that the Bill has become an Act after the approval granted by the President. The notification read that the act will come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
While supporting the historic bill in the Parliament, the Opposition condemned the government for not bringing the quota for women into immediate effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament during the bill’s discussion that it could only come into effect after 2029 due to the pending census and delimitation.
A day after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that with the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, the nation usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. He added that this is not merely legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made the nation. He exclaimed that India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.
India News
CM Arvind Kejriwal announces Delhi winter action plan to curb pollution
Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government will also deploy 530 water sprinklers in an attempt to prevent dust pollution
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday affirmed that pollution levels dropped in the national capital owing to various government initiatives as he announced the winter action plan to curb pollution.
Addressing a press conference, CM Arvind Kejriwal stated that the number of days witnessing severe pollution levels declined in the past eight years due to several initiatives of the government, like the introduction of electric buses and the EV Policy, among others.
Announcing the winter action plan in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal stated that the Pusa bio decomposer that prevents stubble burning will be sprayed on 5,000 hectares of farmland this year against 4,400 hectares the previous year. As far as reports are concerned, the Pusa bio decomposer, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is a microbial solution that can turn paddy straw into manure in 15-20 days.
In addition, Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government will also deploy 530 water sprinklers in an attempt to prevent dust pollution and 385 teams, who will be entrusted to check vehicles pollution certificates and prevent the plying of overage cars.
According to reports, in 2018, the Supreme Court banned diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, respectively, in Delhi. The top court had added that the vehicles plying in violation of the order would be impounded. Further, a 2014 order of the National Green Tribunal bars vehicles older than 15 years to be parked in public places.
Arvind Kejriwal also reiterated that burning garbage in the open is banned in Delhi. He mentioned that 611 teams will supervise the implementation of the same. He also urged people to download the Green Delhi mobile application on their devices and report any pollution-causing activity to the government.
Speaking about stubble burning, the Delhi Chief Minister noted that in Punjab, they formed a government last year and the data from the last year showed that the steps taken in 6-7 months led to a 30% reduction in stubble burning.
