Centre amends rules to appoint Chief of Defence Staff

According to the new rules, any serving three-star officer in the army, navy and air force is eligible to become the CDS.

The guidelines state that officers who have retired in the rank of Lieutenant General or General but have not attained the age of 62 years on the date of appointment will also be considered for the post.

As per the amended rules, any serving officer can supersede his seniors like the army chief to take on the role of the CDS.

"The Central Government may, if considered necessary, in the public interest, so to do, appoint as Chief of Defence Staff, an officer who is serving as 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," the notification issued under the Air Force Act 1950 said.

India's top military post has been lying vacant since the death of General Bipin Rawat in a chopper crash on Dec 8 2021.

A four-star general, he became the first-ever CDS after retiring as the army chief.