An IIT graduate, the new Defence minister of India Mr Manohar Parrikar within months of his taking over as RM made a public statement that Chief of Defence Staff system is a must for India and he is already working on this concept. One thought that now the days of Babus of the MOD who have been lording over the Ministry of Defence and playing the Game of General General for last 68 years of Indian independence, playing one service against other and feeding Indian netas the apprehension that if armed forces of India are not kept under tight leash then be prepared for coup are over and Indian Armed forces will also have a five star general as CDS like 70 countries of the world including Pakistan have it to integrate and synergise the three services in real sense as also to provide single point military advise to the ruling political class. Alas the hopes have been dashed and the Babus have again won.
If one asked the Indian politicians and bureaucrats as to why India is not implementing CDS system answer always was that Services don’t agree and more forcefully that “we need political consensus”.
As reported in media the Modi Government is planning to implement the Naresh Chandra (Again a Babu) committee report where instead of CDS there will be a permanent chairman of the Chiefs of staff committee a four star general at par with the three armed forces chiefs. This is a much diluted version of CDS and unlikely to deliver the desired results.
After the Kargil war where once again the lack of synergy among the armed forces got highlighted in the bitter squabble which took place between Army and the Air force in the conduct of the operations, then NDA Government had established a high powered committee under famous defence and strategic analyst Mr. K subramanium who took a holistic approach to what ails the higher defence management in India and submitted to the government brilliant and very workable suggestions for setting them right. The NDA Government then set up a Group of Ministers under then home minister LK Advani for the study of these recommendations and their implementation. This GOM accepted most of the recommendations of the Subramanium Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) of the Bajpai Government approved 23 recommendations for implementation.
These included development of Indian nuclear deterrence, higher defence management to include CDS, Intelligence sector reforms, border management, Defence budget, use of air power, integrated manpower policy and defence procurement. The actual implementation of CDS was pended to obtain political consensus but work started in other projects. Unfortunately in 2004 the NDA Government gave way to the Congress led UPA Government and as usual the Babudom straddling the MOD got the chance to create mischief and even after 19 years the work is still in progress.
Fact is that Babus keeping stranglehold over MOD did not want this to be implemented and advised their political masters accordingly lest they lose all the powers.
India needs this General Number 1 for providing: one, single-point military advice to the government; two, better manage country’s strategic resources and nuclear arsenal; three, bring synergy among Army, Navy and Air Force by resolving inter-service doctrinal, planning, procurement and operational issues, and; four, integrate the Services Headquarters with MoD. Around 70 countries including US, UK, France, Germany and Australia have CDS like post for integration of military operations and planning. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and CDS in US and France respectively are highest ranking military officer and principal military adviser to the President of the country. In the case of the US, the Theatre Commanders too report directly to the political leadership. If one asked the Indian politicians and bureaucrats as to why India is not implementing CDS system answer always was that Services don’t agree and more forcefully that “we need political consensus”. The truth is that during a meeting chaired by the then Defence Minister (now President of India) in 2005 Mr Pranab Mukharjee, the Service Heads showed not only complete consensus to the need of a CDS but equivocally endorsed he must have full operational powers over the entire military.
Fact is that Babus keeping stranglehold over MOD did not want this to be implemented and advised their political masters accordingly lest they lose all the powers. Case in point is that even after 68 years of independence the person responsible for defence of India are not our political masters or the three army chiefs but the defence secretary of India. Till date the three Services Headquarters are “Attached Offices “of the MOD. This gives the handle to the Babus straddling MOD not only to keep the military away but also absolves MoD of whatever happens in the Services. With the Defence Secretary (not Defence Minister) continuing to be in-charge for the defence of India as per the ‘Rules of Business’ the IAS in the MoD follow the divide the military and rule policy.
Starting from Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon who initiated the arms mafia in MoD through the infamous Jeep Scandal of pre 1962 days and brought shame to the county in 1962 Indo-China war , party funds of the party ruling the country keeps on bloating with the 10 percent commission obtained in defence deals from arms purchased abroad as good will money. With this legacy in conjunction with the fact that they are not responsible for the defence of India, successive Defence Ministers have been more gainfully employed to make money, as indicated by various scams growing increasingly larger and profitable, in synch with the arms mafia masterminded by the bureaucracy in tandem with other tentacles in PMO, DRDO-DPSUs-ORDINANCE FACTORIES and abroad. Political involvement gives automatic protection to the bureaucracy.
Little wonder why our defence indigenisation is so pathetic and we even after 68 years are importing 70 percent of our defence requirements at the cost of 70000 corers per year.
Little wonder why our defence indigenisation is so pathetic and we even after 68 years are importing 70 percent of our defence requirements at the cost of 70000 corers per year. No inquiry for lapses and delays in defence production takes place, no blame apportioned and no heads ever tolls ‘Sab Chalta Hai’.
It is really heartening that the Modi Government has given ultimatum to the large public sector defence production base existing in India which includes eight large PSUs, six large shipyards, 39 ordinance factories, 52 state of art laboratories and the huge DRDO organisation to mend their ways and improve their functioning. Modi Government has enhanced the FDI in defence to 49 % to attract private players to participate in the new Make in India in defence concept. Mr Parrikar wants in next five years the defence production to be indigenised to the tune of 50000 corers with only ten to twenty thousand cores worth of arms being imported.
Of a five star general as CDS and his secretariat holding total sway over the three services as recommended by Subramanium Committee the Chandra shekhar committee had recommended a much diluted CDS system in the form of permanent Chairman Chief of staff Committee. He will be a four star general only at par with the three service chiefs. He will be first among equals In other words a staff officer with no field responsibility. The operational responsibility will rest with the existing chiefs. His main job will be to resolve all inter service doctrinal planning, procurement and operational issues.
With India facing double trouble from both Pakistan and china that have joined hands against India and possibility of two front fight for India very much a reality, this diluted CDS will not do.
In rank conscious armed forces this will again be a half hearted implementation with Babus of the of the MOD being still the final arbiters because it is to them that the three chiefs will rush to solve the differences between them and this new General number one. So what has changed? The incompetent know nothing on matters military the Babus will still prevail. This must be avoided at all costs. Modi Government must also forget about consensus approach. World history tells us that in all such implementations in matters military only the top down approach works.
With India facing double trouble from both Pakistan and china that have joined hands against India and possibility of two front fight for India very much a reality, this diluted CDS will not do. Adding one more four star general is not the answer. Need of the hour is a five star general with his secretariat having total sway over the three services and accountable to the Indian political masters. It should be this CDS and not the defence secretary responsible for the defence of the country. It is not that this system did not exist in India earlier. At the time of independence India had a Commander in chief in the name of FD Marshal kariappa with control over three services. It was Nehru’s paranoia with military coup and advises of his Babus that this post was abolished by him after retirement of Fd Marshal Kariappa and the current faulty system introduced.
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How can a Brigadier mistake of anticipating that CDS will be 5 star general, when a layman like us know that it will not be 5 star but 4 star only. Take what you get ask later for upgrade why kill the goose before it has laid the eggs. have patience as kabir said gardener pulls 100 of vessels of water when the season comes you recieve the fruit
Excellent Analysis of the Issue of Appointment of CDS pending decision since decades? It was again gone thru by a high level Commitee. It recommended pisitivel. Alas the Babus play their games. KUDOS IS DUE TO VETERAN SOLDIER AND AUTHOR Brig ARUN BAJPAI.
THE ARMED FORCES MUST INSIST THAT THE MOD BABUS ARE MADE ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR DUTIES LISTED AND PASTED ON THEIR OFFICE DOORS . APUBLIC BOOKLET OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLITY AND ACCOUNTABILTY TOGETHER WITH THAT OF THE MINSTER , THE SERVICE CHIEFS AND STAFFS SHOULD MAKE THEM GIVE UP ON THE POWERS THEY HAVE DEVIOUSLY SELF APPROPIATED . THE ARMED FORCES MUST REFUSE TO WORK UNDER UNPROFESSIONAL GENERAL LIST BABUS AND MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE POLITICAL ELITE THE CIVIL CONTROL OF ARMED FORCES IS WITH THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND NOT THE BABUS , DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PM , DEFENCE MINISTER , HOME MINISTER FOREIGN MINISTER MUST BE SOUGHT , WITHOUT INVOLVING CIVILAN OR POLICE PANDUS IN THE GARBS OF NSAS OR PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARIES TO PM OR DEFENCE MINI STER
THE ENTRENCHED SYSTEM OF 10 % FOR POLITICIANS , 3% FOR BABUS AND PEANUTS TO CONNIVING UNIFORMED RANKS WILL BE RATTLED THE DAY THE SYSTEM IS CHANGED . SINCE THE BAUBUS HAVE ALWAYS TALKED OF A IMAGINARY COUP , THE ARMED FORCES MUST INSIST OF LATERAL ENTRY INTO MOD OF PUBLIC LUMANARIES , REPUTED BANKERS , LAWYERS , CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESSMEN OF IMPECABLE INTEGRITY AND OVERSEEN BY A TEAM OF RETD SUPREME COURT JUDGES . THE CDS WHETHER 4 STAR OR FIVE WILL ONLY BE SUCESSFUL WHEN ALL DEFENCE INSTITUTIONS ESPECIALLY BRIGADES , DIVISIONS , CORPS , COMMANDS THE CINCS AND ALL TRAINING AND LOGISTICS , ORDNANCE INTELLIGENCE , COMMUNICATION, AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS ARE INTEGRATED WITH OTHER RANKS AND OFFICERS DEPUTED ON TWO TO THREE YEARS TENURES . THE THREE SERVICES THEMSELVES WILL BE UNWILLING WHERE A NAVY OR AIRFORCE JAG IS UNDER ARMY CDR , OR ARMY LOGISTICS OR ORDNANCE STAFF ARE WORKING UNDER THE TWO OTHER SERVICE CINC S . THE SERVICES AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL BUREUCRATIC ELITE HAVE ENTRENCHED VESTED INTERESTS AS A CAPITAL BUDGET OF 95000 CRORES AND A REVENUE BUDGET OF 150000 LAKH CRORES LIKELY TO BE OVER 500000 CRORES LEAVES 30000 TO 50000 CRORES TO BE SKIMMED BY THE RULING PARTY THE MOD BABUS AND SERVICE SELF APPROPIATED PERKS ALL AT THE COST OF TAX PAYERS MONEY . ONLY A THROUGH BEATING BY A SURPRISE ATTACK BY CHINA AND PAKISTA N WILL WAKE THE ACTORS FROM SLUMBER .
Dear Mr Arun,
Even the American military, the most powerful one on the planet, has a Chairman of JCS which is not a CDS. American Chairman is also a four star, staff appointment and as far as can be seen, the jointness has been quite successful in the US forces so far. Even in America, a service chief can disagree and direct his advice directly to the President of the USA, however, CJCS has power to add his opinion with it to the POTUS. Hence, the mediation between services is still done by the SecDef and not by an uniformed person. The entire idea for this mechanism, which emerged after experiments in jointness since 1942, was to make sure that one person doesn’t get immense power without accountability.
So stop fooling around. CDS is good for Pakistani type military. India needs only a Chief Military Advisor for which PC-COSC is good enough.
Please do not compare Indian situation with American system. There are no similarities. American Has 3 secretary of navy air force and army and American defense forces are integrated forces unlike India. In America, JCS is like a CDS and there is no BABU (Defense sectary) on top of him and he reports directly to President because President is a supreme commander. In India JCS is under a BABU who reports to Defense Minister. SO what is wrong if JCS but better a CDS report directly to Defense Minister.
From your note it seem like that you are also a babu. So please stop fooling around.
Well Bobby Darling,
Why don’t you enlighten yourself by reading the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 before opening your idiotic mouth ? American CJCS is a STAFF appointment and he has absolutely NO ff*ing CDS type role. All Combatant Commanders of US Joint Commands directly report to the SecDef and not to the CJCS. He can’t even move a puny platoon from one place to another. Additionally, American CJCS is the advisor to the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) and NOT to the American President. The 1986 act is available even online so read it first, at the least.
Your problem is quite similar to other retired service officers. All of you are good at copy-paste and plagiarism but no original thinking. No wonder that India doesn’t have a Grand Strategy or even a National Military strategy yet. Pathetic !!!
I agree with you.in many points. These Army people are interested only rank. The question is, whether by creating a new post all the following vital problems in the Armed Forces will be solved?
1) Whether the operating efficiency of the Armed forces will be enhanced?
2) Delay in getting Air support to the Army.
3) Delay in getting approval to start a new war front in another sector to minimize enemy pressure in another sector. In 1965 and 1971 wars Pakistan captured our territory in Chamb sector. In a democratic country only the PM and MoD are the competent authority to take immediate decision on matters of war, like whether to start a war or to open another war front(in another sector). This authority cannot be given to any officer holding the new post.
4) Delay in getting vital equipments and spares for the Army.
Delay in getting air support can be easily solved by allotting a few squadrons of Tejas fighter planes to the Army. IAF is not satisfied with Tejas. Our Air force officers have a fetish for foreign equipments. Make in India policy will minimize the delay in procurement. CDS should be a person acceptable to all the three Service chiefs. Departmental feeling is too much in the three services. They won’t see each other. They consider their departmental survival to be more important than the country’s survival. First we have to rectify this feeling. Officers from the Army(Major General onwards), Navy(Rear Admiral onwards) and Air force ( Air Vice Marshal onwards) should have served in the three Defence Services at least for three years to get the post of CDS. In Rlys no offcer can become a GM without serving as DRM. No officer can become a railway board member without serving as GM. But MOD should know, in and out of the defence organization.
Brig Vajpaye has written a good article.What he has stated is generally well known.The so called babus know it already.But no harm in reminding them of the urgent need for reforming and strengthening the defence structure to meet the duel threat from China and Pakistan.The change however will only take place recieves a set back in a future conflict/war.