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What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs?

  1. 1.Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee.
  2. 2.Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs.
  3. 3.Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1, 2 and 3
  2. B.1 and 2 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1 and 3 only
▶ Answer & Explanation

Correct answer: D. 1 and 3 only

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, ensuring synergy among the services. Crucially, the CDS acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister, offering integrated advice on defence policy and operations across all three services, thereby streamlining decision-making in national security matters. However, the CDS does not exercise direct military command over the individual service chiefs; each chief retains command of their respective service.

Source: UPSC gs1 2024

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