New Delhi : Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane is appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The CDS status was created after the Kargil war. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the single point adviser to the Central Government on military matters.

The Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) is the military head and chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces. Late CDS Bipin Rawat was tasked with coordinating the three forces, giving critical advice to the Ministry of Defense and formulating arms procurement procedures.

General Naravane took over as COAS (Chief of the Army Staff) from General Bipin Rawat on 31 December 2019 after the latter completed his term. Prior to his appointment as the COAS, the general served as the 40th Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) of the Indian Army, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command. He has led counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir and the eastern states.

General Naravane has served as the Military attaché to Myanmar at Yangon. In addition, he served in an instructional appointment at the Army War College, Mhow as Directing Staff in the Higher Command Wing and two tenures at the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters of Ministry of Defence, New Delhi. During his career, he has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2017), Sena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal (2015), and the CoAS commendation card for his service. He was also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Sikh Light Infantry; he took over this honour from previous colonel of the Regiment Lt Gen Devraj Anbu post his retirement.