Military officers from other ranks will be eligible for the position of CDS

According to government notifications, any incumbent or retired lieutenant general, air marshal, or vice admiral under the age of 62 will be eligible for the position of Chief of Defence Staff.

According to the new rules, officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force can be considered for the CDS’S job, along with serving leaders of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Since General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, died in a helicopter crash on December 8, 2021, the position of Chief of Defence Staff has been vacant.

Separate notices were published by the government on Monday as part of the Air Force Act, the Army Act, and the Navy Act to provide provisions for any serving or retiring lieutenant general, air marshal, or vice admiral to be named as the CDS.

‘The central government may, if considered necessary in the public interest, appoint as Chief of Defence Staff an officer who is serving as an air marshal or air chief marshal, or an officer who has retired in the rank of air marshal or air chief marshal but has not attained the age of 62 years on the date of his appointment,’ according to the notification issued under the Air Force Act 1950.

The government may extend the Chief of Defence Staff’s employment for as long as it deems necessary, subject to a maximum age of 65 years, according to the notification.

The Army Act of 1950 and the Navy Act of 1957 also made similar notices.

Three service heads have a three-year term or until they are 62, whichever comes first.

In effect, former army, navy, and air force leaders are unlikely to be considered for the CDS job because the eligibility age for the position has been set at 62 years.

General Rawat became India’s first CDS on January 1, 2020, with the mission of bringing the army, navy, and air force together and bolstering the country’s overall military capabilities.