New Delhi: Just months before his retirement on December 31, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat on September 27 received the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) baton from outgoing Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, at a brief ceremony in New Delhi.
The outgoing Chairman COSC, has been at the forefront of all issues related to the three Services. The Air Chief Marshal took charge as Chairman on May 31. Under his stewardship, the Services progressed jointmanship and integration on a number of fronts in synchronisation with the motto ‘Victory through Jointness’.
General Bipin Rawat, in his career spanning 41 years, has had an illustrious military profile with vast operational and staff exposure. As the Chief of Army Staff, he has been a member of COSC since January 2017. During his tenure in COSC, the Committee has deliberated on a number of diverse issues ranging from operations, training and administration, with an aim to enhance jointmanship and integration. General Rawat, with his foresight and professional acumen, has contributed immensely to the committee with his non-partisan views on critical issues.
As the next Chairman COSC, General Rawat is focused to operationalise the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), enhance Tri-Service integration, stimulate simultaneous growth of the Services, rapid operationalisation and synchronisation of modern war fighting capabilities to ensure that the Armed Forces are well aligned to the future.
Meanwhile, the Centre has initiated the process to appoint the successor to General Rawat whose three-year tenure ends on December 31.
“The process to appoint the next Chief has been initiated and the names of senior-most Lieutenant Generals would be considered for the top post in the 1.2 million-strong force,” government sources said.
Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen M.M. Narwane, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh and Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Satinder Kumar Saini are among front runners for the top post, sources said.
Although the file for appointment to the top posts in the government is initiated by the Defence Ministry’s Joint Secretary concerned, the final decision is however taken by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Home Minister Amit Shah is the only Minister in the Committee.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also plays a key role in the appointment of the members of his security team as they work together in implementing the security policy of the country.
