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The Ministry of Defence has issued a Notification regarding new regulations for amendment in Air Force Regulations, 1964 for the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
The amendment, called the Air Force (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, on Monday inserted Regulation 213 B to Regulation 213 (service rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force) of the Air Force Regulations.
The amendment said the post of CDS may be filled by an officer serving as Air Marshal or Air Chief Marshal or one who retired at similar ranks, but was under 62 years on the date of appointment.
The Central Government has the power to extend the services of CDS to the maximum age of 65 years, if deemed necessary, it noted.
As per the provision, the Centre may 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.
According to Section 213B, The Union of India may extend the service of the Chief of Defence Staff for up to maximum 65 years.
The post of CDS, which was recommended in the Kargil Review Committee in 1999, got approval by the Central Government in December, 2019.
The office of CDS is one of the biggest military reforms, instrumental in coordination and working between the government and the Defence forces.
The office of CDS also works as Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC).
Highly decorated officer, General Bipin Rawat, was India’s first CDS.
He was killed along with his wife and 10 other officials when an Indian Air Force helicopter carrying them crashed into a heavily wooded area in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu in December 2021.
Since then, the post of CDS has remained vacant.