Continuing the legacy, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane appointed as Chief of Defence Staff

New Delhi, December 16: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a post previously held by CDS Bipin Rawat. The country lost its first CDS in a fatal IAF helicopter crash, and therefore continuing his legacy, General Naravane became the next Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) that comprises the three service Chiefs.

 

 

There had been certain speculations that General Naravane could be the new CDS of India and he rightfully assumed the charge as the COSC Chairman from Thursday. The post of COSC Chairman, comprising the Heads of the three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) fell vacant after the untimely demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash on December 8.

 

While there has been no discussion about the new CDS yet, General Naravane was given the charge of COSC chairman as he is the senior-most among the three service chiefs - a factor that has strengthened his claim to be the next CDS.

 

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had taken over their respective positions on September 30 and November 30. Before the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the senior-most among the three service chiefs used to be the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

 

The Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) met on Tuesday and condoled the death of General Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel. Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the crash, succumbed to injuries on Wednesday at a military hospital in Bengaluru.