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NEW DELHI: India is not going to get a General No.1 anytime soon. Much like the politico-bureaucratic combine scuttled the recommendation for a chief of defence staff (CDS) after the 1999 Kargil conflict, the defence ministry has expressed major reservations against the fresh proposal for a permanent chairman of the chiefs of staff committee (CoSC).
The 14-member Naresh Chandra Taskforce on national security, in its report to PM Manmohan Singh in May last year, had recommended a permanent CoSC chairman to exercise "administrative control" over the nuclear arsenal, head a separate joint special forces command, prioritize modernization of the armed forces and prepare annual defence operational status reports.
The permanent CoSC chairman, a four-star general like the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs who currently constitute the panel, was to also be an "invitee" to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the National Security Council (NSC) as well as advise the defence minister on all matters concerning two or more Services.
But sources said the MoD, in its "recent comments" to the NSC Secretariat under the PMO, virtually rejected the creation of a permanent CoSC chairman post as well as some other "critical reforms" desperately needed to reform the country's higher defence management that were suggested by the Naresh Chandra Taskforce.
The MoD refused to "comment" on the "classified" matter. "We are not entertaining questions on the issue," MoD spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said. The PMO, especially national security advisor Shivshankar Menon who is discussing the taskforce report with all stakeholders, and the CCS are yet to take a final view on the taskforce report.
But MoD's reservations could well push the proposals into the cold storage. Successive governments have used the pretext of the need to evolve a political consensus, as also lack of complete agreement among the three Services, to keep the crucial CDS post in suspended animation since Kargil. Using the same grounds, the MoD has rejected the permanent CoSC chairman's post this time.
MoD has also rebuffed the taskforce's proposal for "cross-staffing" by posting military officers to the ministry to bridge the civil-military disconnect. It was felt this would develop synergy and truly integrate Service HQs with MoD, instead of the cosmetic changes witnessed over the years. MoD, however, said this view was "contestable" since existing mechanisms and decision-making was based on "joint consultation" and "integrated advice from all components".
Opposing the permanent CoSC chairman, MoD said the present system of handling the nuclear arsenal by the Strategic Forces Command, with a three-star general in command and "a separate and distinct management structure", did not warrant a change.
Similarly, MoD held there was "no scope" for CoSC chairman to be invited for CCS and NSC meetings because "only certain ministers are invited" to them. Moreover, the current system of the three Service chiefs and the collegiate CoSC briefing the defence minister was "functioning well".
The existing tri-Service integrated defence staff (IDS) is adequately handling modernization of the armed forces, major joint exercises and other tasks, the MoD said.
Govt develops cold feet over General No.1 - The Times of India
The 14-member Naresh Chandra Taskforce on national security, in its report to PM Manmohan Singh in May last year, had recommended a permanent CoSC chairman to exercise "administrative control" over the nuclear arsenal, head a separate joint special forces command, prioritize modernization of the armed forces and prepare annual defence operational status reports.
The permanent CoSC chairman, a four-star general like the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs who currently constitute the panel, was to also be an "invitee" to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the National Security Council (NSC) as well as advise the defence minister on all matters concerning two or more Services.
But sources said the MoD, in its "recent comments" to the NSC Secretariat under the PMO, virtually rejected the creation of a permanent CoSC chairman post as well as some other "critical reforms" desperately needed to reform the country's higher defence management that were suggested by the Naresh Chandra Taskforce.
The MoD refused to "comment" on the "classified" matter. "We are not entertaining questions on the issue," MoD spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said. The PMO, especially national security advisor Shivshankar Menon who is discussing the taskforce report with all stakeholders, and the CCS are yet to take a final view on the taskforce report.
But MoD's reservations could well push the proposals into the cold storage. Successive governments have used the pretext of the need to evolve a political consensus, as also lack of complete agreement among the three Services, to keep the crucial CDS post in suspended animation since Kargil. Using the same grounds, the MoD has rejected the permanent CoSC chairman's post this time.
MoD has also rebuffed the taskforce's proposal for "cross-staffing" by posting military officers to the ministry to bridge the civil-military disconnect. It was felt this would develop synergy and truly integrate Service HQs with MoD, instead of the cosmetic changes witnessed over the years. MoD, however, said this view was "contestable" since existing mechanisms and decision-making was based on "joint consultation" and "integrated advice from all components".
Opposing the permanent CoSC chairman, MoD said the present system of handling the nuclear arsenal by the Strategic Forces Command, with a three-star general in command and "a separate and distinct management structure", did not warrant a change.
Similarly, MoD held there was "no scope" for CoSC chairman to be invited for CCS and NSC meetings because "only certain ministers are invited" to them. Moreover, the current system of the three Service chiefs and the collegiate CoSC briefing the defence minister was "functioning well".
The existing tri-Service integrated defence staff (IDS) is adequately handling modernization of the armed forces, major joint exercises and other tasks, the MoD said.
Govt develops cold feet over General No.1 - The Times of India
Military must not be all powerful. J
he had a great sense of humour
