No line of succession for CDS
- December 10, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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No line of succession for CDS
Subject – Defence and Security
Context – No clear line of succession, CCS to decide on next CDS
Concept –
- Unlike the structures for the military, where the second-in-command to every officer, whether in the field or as a service chief, officiates if the lead officer becomes indisposed, sources said there is no immediate line of succession envisaged for the CDS — although there is an unofficial Vice Chief of Defence Staff, who is a three-star officer.
- For example, if a serving chief of the Army, the Navy or the Air Force becomes incapable of holding his position, the Vice Chief of that force officiates as the chief until the government appoints a full-time chief. It does not necessarily have to be the Vice Chief, though.
- Sources said the appointment of the CDS/DMA Secretary is more akin to that of a secretary than that of a service chief. There is no deputy to the CDS, who would have automatically officiated in his role in his absence.
- CDS is a military officer, but is a bureaucrat like a secretary, which is why there is no direct “line of succession”. It is an appointment made by the political leadership. He is “not in active military service, but parts of bureaucracy related to the military, which were looked after by the civilian bureaucracy, was handed over to the DMA and the CDS as its secretary”.
- The CDS was the permanent head of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC), which includes the three service chiefs. Before the post of CDS was created, the senior-most service chief would be the chairman of CoSC.
- There is also the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), headed by a three-star officer from the services called Chairman IDS to the Chairman COSC (CISC), who enjoys the rank of a Vice Chief of a service. When the post of CDS was created, the CISC was expected to be made VCDS.
- Although the CISC does stand-in for the CDS if the latter is unavailable for ceremonial roles, this is not for executionary powers.
- For the three-star CISC, officiating over the CoSC with four-star officers can be an issue.
Cabinet Committee on Security
- The committee is responsible for debates, discussions and appointments of/in the national security bodies.
- Major decisions with respect to the significant appointments, issues of national security, defence expenditure of India are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
- CCS is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
- The following are the members of the CCS:
- Prime Minister
- Minister of Defence
- Minister of Home Affairs
- Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs
- Minister of External Affairs.