Dilli Ka Babu: Defence babus worried

The announcement that India will soon have a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who will become the single point of military advice to the government, has been widely welcomed as a much-needed reform. While the three services chiefs will continue with their current tasks, the CDS would be the main point of advice for the defence ministry and will ensure coordination among the Army, Air Force and Navy on joint operations, training and intelligence.

But there is one arm of the government that is unhappy with the news. A section of (anonymous) babus have taken to Twitter to protest the move and said they will fight it “tooth and nail”. It is not that they are opposed to the creation of the post of CDS, but they fear that this will be done by degrading the post of the defence secretary, who is the principal defence adviser to the defence minister. The appointment of a CDS would end that monopoly.

The IAS fraternity has been concerned about its losing grip over key posts in the government for quite some time now. The Modi sarkar has made decisive moves to appoint non-IAS service babus to senior positions in the government, much to the chagrin of the heaven-born. At present, more than 120 posts of joint secretary with the government are filled by non-IAS officers.