Centre to soon begin process to appoint next CDS; General MM Naravane frontrunner
In the wake of the tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in the IAF helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8, the Central Government is set to begin the process to appoint the next Chief of Defence Staff. Army Chief General MM Naravane is emerging as the frontrunner for the top post.
The move by the government comes even as a number of retired military commanders said it would be prudent to appoint General MM Naravane as he was retiring as the Chief of Army Staff in five months.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Army Chief General MM Naravane[/caption]
Also read | Farmers call off 15-month-long protest, to start vacating Delhi borders
It is learnt the government would form a small panel comprising senior commanders from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The panel would be finalised based on recommendations from the three services in the next two to three days and then it will be sent to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for approval.
Following the approval by the Defence Minister, the names will be sent for consideration by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet that will take the final decision on India’s next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), those familiar with the development said.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife died in an IAF helicopter crash on December 8.[/caption]
Also read | Know the gallant officers who were killed in Tamil Nadu IAF chopper crash
Sources said the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) was likely to coordinate the process of drawing up the panel of prospective candidates for the post of the Chief of Defence Staff. General Naravane is the senior-most among the three service chiefs and also the frontrunner for the post.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Social media[/caption]
-PTC News
