Chief of the Defence Staff (Vishwamitra)
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|---|---|
| चीफ ऑफ डिफेंस स्टाफ | |
 | |
| Royal Vishwamitran Defence Force Ministry of National Defence | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Abbreviation | CDS |
| Member of | Royal Defence Force |
| Reports to | Rashtradhyaksh Prime Minister Minister of National Defence |
| Nominator | Minister of National Defence |
| Appointer | Rashtradhyaksh on the recommendation of the National Defence |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation | 17 February 2021: Chief of General Staff 26 November 2021: Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee 17 July 2022: Chief of the Defence Staff |
| First holder | General Arturo Lara |
| Deputy | Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff |
The Chief of the Defence Staff (Abbr.: CDS, Hindi: चीफ ऑफ डिफेंस स्टाफ) is the professional head of the Royal Vishwamitran Defence Force and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Rashtradhyaksh ('King of Vishwamitra'), the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence. The Chief of the Defence Staff is the highest rank in the Royal Defence Force only after the Rashtradhyaksh who holds the title of the Commander-in-Chief.
The position of the CDS was first created on 17 February 2021 as the head of the armed forces and senior to the heads of the branches of the armed forces, viz. the army, navy, and the air force. The position was first held by General Arturo Lara who served in office from the establishment of the position until his voluntary retirement on 17 June 2021. The position of CDS was abolished on 24 August 2021 and months later, was replaced by the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee who was designated as the rotational head of the armed forces and served for a term of three months.
Following the abolition of the naval and air force and the transformation of the army into the combined defence force in July 2022, the position of the CDS was re-created as the head of the defence force. General John Caravaggio III, formerly an Admiral and chief of the naval staff was appointed as the first office-holder thereupon and has since been serving in the capacity.
Responsibilities
As the professional head of the defence force, the Chief of the Defence Staff is responsible for the command, control, and administration of the force, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements. The CDS also serves as the principal security and military advisor to the Rashtradhyaksh who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force and as well as to the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence. The CDS is also assisted by a deputy who holds the title of the Deputy Chief of the Defence Force.
The CDS holds the highest service rank in the defence force and is the senior-most uniformed office-holder in the defence force.
Appointees
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | Previous office(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of the Defence Staff (17 February – 24 August 2021) | ||||||
| 1 | General Arturo Lara, 1st Count of Granville आर्टुरो लारा (born 1998) |
17 February 2021 |
17 June 2021 |
120 days | None | |
| 2 | 
|
Air Chief Marshal Abrams Wiucki-Dunswed, 1st Duke of Portanhel अब्राम्स वुकी-डंस्वेड (born 2006) |
18 June 2021 |
24 August 2021 |
67 days | |
| Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (26 November 2021 – 17 July 2022) | ||||||
| 1 | 
|
Air Chief Marshal Matthew Griffin, 1st Count of Essex मैथ्यू ग्रिफिन (born 2003) |
26 November 2021 |
26 February 2022 |
92 days | |
| Chief of the Defence Staff (17 July 2022 – present) | ||||||
| 1 | 
|
General Dato Utama Param Sri John Caravaggio III, Count Caravaggio जॉन कारवागियो III (born 2003) |
17 July 2022 |
Incumbent | 2 years, 108 days | |
See also
| General | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government and politics |
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| Intermicronational membership | |||||||
| Residences and buildings | |||||||
| Media | |||||||
