CDS appointment system: Govt widens selection pool for India's armed services top post

CDS appointment system: Govt widens selection pool for India's armed services top post The government has issued separate notifications on Monday as part of the Air Force Act, the Army Act and the Navy Act to make the provisions to make any serving or retired Lt General, Air Marshal or Vice Admiral eligible to be appointed as the CDS. Highlights The Centre has issued a notification on the amendments made in the selection procedure of CDS CDS post has been lying vacant since the death of Gen Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash on Dec 8 Identical notifications were issued under the Army Act 1950 and the Navy Act 1957 Chief of Defence Staff appointment amendment: The Centre has made an amendment in the selection procedure of the candidates for India's top military post -- Chief of Defence Staff -- by widening the selection pool of present serving officers. The government has issued separate notifications on Monday as part of the Air Force Act, the Army Act and the Navy Act to make the provisions to make any serving or retired Lt General, Air Marshal or Vice Admiral eligible to be appointed as the CDS. "The Central Government may, if considered necessary, in the public interest, so to do, 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," the notification issued under the Air Force Act 1950 said.