India’s armed forces are being reorganised from the top down — a single post now sits above three services that once answered separately.
MCQquestion.comPolity0113 · Indian Polity
India’s Defence Organisational Structure
From three separate service chiefs to a single Chief of Defence Staff
24 Dec 2019
CDS post created
A new Department of Military Affairs is set up to head it.
1 Jan 2020
Bipin Rawat, first CDS
General Bipin Rawat becomes India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.
8 Dec 2021
Rawat dies in a crash
A helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, kills Rawat.
30 Sep 2022
Anil Chauhan, second CDS
General Anil Chauhan takes over as India’s second CDS.
31 May 2026
Raja Subramani, third CDS
General N S Raja Subramani becomes India’s current CDS.
One Chain of Command, Still Forming
Theaterisation has been debated for over two decades. Merging three independent service traditions into unified commands is still a work in progress.
Timeline
- 24 December 2019: The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post is created, heading a new Department of Military Affairs.
- 1 January 2020: General Bipin Rawat becomes India’s first CDS.
- 8 December 2021: Rawat dies in a helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
- 30 September 2022: General Anil Chauhan becomes India’s second CDS.
- 31 May 2026: General N S Raja Subramani becomes India’s third, and current, CDS.
🏛️ Must Know
Must Know
- The Chief of The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post was created on 24 December 2019, to head a new Department of Military Affairs.
- General Bipin Rawat General Bipin Rawat became India’s first CDS, on 1 January 2020.
- Rawat died in Rawat died in a helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, on 8 December 2021.
- General Anil Chauhan General Anil Chauhan became India’s second CDS, on 30 September 2022.
- General N S General N S Raja Subramani became India’s third, and current, CDS on 31 May 2026.
🏘️ Good to Know
Good to Know
- The CDS also The CDS also serves as Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee — a role once rotated among the three service chiefs.
- The Department of The Department of Military Affairs sits within the Ministry of Defence, alongside separate departments for Defence Production, Defence R&D, and Ex-Servicemen Welfare.
- India is pursuing India is pursuing “theaterisation” — merging single-service commands into unified, tri-service theatre commands.
- Principal Military Advisor The CDS also serves as Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters.
- No Military Command The CDS does not exercise military command, including over the three Service Chiefs — the role is advisory and coordinating, not a chain-of-command superior.
Test Yourself
⚡ Great to Know
Great to Know
- Under the theaterisation Under the theaterisation plan, theatre commanders will hold operational authority in war, reporting directly to the Defence Minister — while service chiefs focus on raising, training, and equipping forces.
- By April 2026 By April 2026, a leadership structure had been finalised: an Army officer leading Northern Command, an Air Force officer leading Western Command, and a Navy officer leading Maritime Command.
- Theaterisation has been Theaterisation has been under discussion for over two decades — a sign of how structurally difficult it is to merge three historically independent service traditions into one.
📝 Previous Year Question
UPSC CSP 2024 — Duties of the CDS
- UPSC 2024 The CDS is Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister — but does not exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs. See UPSC CSP 2024 GS Paper I, Q77.
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