GOVERNEMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 353

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3.8 2011

Appointment of CDS for Single Point Military Advice

353. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)    Whether it is a fact that an Empowered Group of Ministers had recommended the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to deliver single – point military advice to the Government, in its report over a decade ago;

(b)   If so, the progress on the same; and

(c)    If not, the reason for the delay?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
(SHRI A. K. ANTONY)

To (c): Yes, Sir. The Government constituted a Group of Ministers (GOM) on 17^th April, 2000 to review the National security system in its entirely and in particular, to consider the recommendations of Kargil Review Committee and to formulate specific proposals for its implementation. The GoM’s report on ‘Reforming the National Security System’ was presented to the Government in February 2001 in which it was, inter alia, recommended to create the institution of Chief of Defence Staff. It was decided that Government would take a view on the establishment of the CDS after consulting various political parties. Accordingly, a decision on the matter would be taken after competition of the ongoing consultations.