Chief of Integrated Defence Staff
{{Short description|Head of Integrated defence staff}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief
| body = Integrated Defence Staff
to the
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
| native_name =
| flag = Flag of Integrated Defence Staff.svg
| flagsize =
| flagalt =
| flagborder =
| flagcaption = Flag of the Integrated Defence Staff
| insignia =
| insigniacaption =
| insigniaalt =
| image = Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| imagecaption =
| incumbent = Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
{{small|AVSM VM VSM}}
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 1 May 2025
| department = {{flagicon image|Flag of Indian Armed Forces.svg}} Indian Armed Forces
| style =
| type = Vice chief of defence
| status = Executive-in-charge of the Integrated Defence Staff.
| abbreviation = CISC
| member_of = {{plainlist|
- Chiefs of Staff Committee
- Integrated Defence Staff
- Vice Chiefs Committee
}}
| reports_to = 20px Chief of Defence Staff
| residence =
| seat = South Hutments, Kashmir House, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi{{Cite web|url=https://cgda.nic.in/adm/circular/A-B-I070717.pdf|title=OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER GENERAL OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS|website=cgda.nic.in|date=7 July 2017}}
| nominator =
| appointer = Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
Ministry of Defence
| appointer_qualified =
| termlength = No fixed term
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument =
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2001|10|1}}
| first = Lieutenant General Pankaj Joshi
{{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}
| last =
| deputy = Deputy Chiefs of the Integrated Defence Staff (DCIDS){{Cite web|url=https://cuts-global.org/pdf/briefing-paper-5-defence-reforms.pdf|title=Defence Reforms in India|website=cuts-global.or|date=5 December 2022}}
| salary =
| website = {{official website|https://www.ids.nic.in/cisc.php}}
| footnotes =
}}
The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) is the statutory office that heads the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), the principal inter-service syndicate of the Indian Armed Forces.{{Cite web|url=https://ids.nic.in/|title=INTEGRATED DEFENCE STAFF|website=nic.in}} Customarily held by a three-star officer nominated from either of India's three armed services, the CISC is the second-highest authority responsible for inter-service jointness, subordinate only to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).{{Cite web|url=https://ssbcrackexams.com/what-is-integrated-defence-staff-2/#google_vignette|title=What Is Integrated Defence Staff?|website=ssbcrackexams.com|date=1 September 2022}}
By function, the CISC is the executive-in-charge of the IDS, and thus, maintains oversight over inter-service coordination on crucial disciplines related to military functioning, specifically, intelligence, doctrine, joint planning, budgetary allocations and training.{{Cite web|url=https://cgda.nic.in/audit/manuals/OFFICE%20MANUAL%20CDA%20(IDS).pdf|title=DEFENCE ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT OFFICE MANUAL PART – XVI|website=cgda.nic.in|date=30 October 2014}} In addition, the CISC serves as a non-voting member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee - of which the CDS is its Chairman; thus by definition, the CISC reports to the CDS, who is the final authority on military jointness.
Domestically, the CISC ranks 23rd-overall in the Indian order of precedence and is the status-equivalent to the Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force; internationally, it is identical to Canada's Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and Spain's Chief of the Joint Defence Staff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence/appointment-of-chief-of-defence-staff-a-transformational-moment/1828051/|title=Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff: A transformational moment?|website=www.financialexpress.com|date=19 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://bharatshakti.in/indias-first-chief-of-defence-staff-will-direct-three-service-chiefs/|title=India’s first Chief of Defence Staff will direct three service chiefs|website=bharatshakti.in|date=20 November 2019}}
Description
=Mandate=
As the penultimate authority (second only to the CDS) tasked with the affairs of inter-service administration of the armed forces, the CISC participates in two crucial bodies: the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).{{Cite web|url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/62703/1/14_Defence_32.pdf|title=STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE THIRTY-SECOND REPORT|website=eparlib.nic.in}}
==Chiefs of Staff Committee==
The COSC is an inter-service syndicate of the armed forces, which functions as a principal advisory body dealing with matters related to inter-service coordination, policy formulation and strategy development. It comprises the CDS - who acts as its Permanent Chairman and the Chiefs of Staff of the three armed services; the CISC is also a member, albeit a non-voting one.
- To supervise and control the IDS - which acts as the arm-cum-secretariat of the CDS and the COSC.
- To chair the Defence Crisis Management Group.
- To supervise the co-ordination of Long Range Plans, Five Years Plans and Annual Budgetary proposals for the three services and presenting coordinated set of proposals to Minister of Defence after discussion with Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Secretary.
- To coordinate, analyze, assess and remove the impact of any discovered critical deficiencies on the three armed services.
- To coordinate, conduct and plan inter-service training.
==Vice Chief's Committee==
In addition to the COSC, the CISC chairs the VCC, which comprises the Vice Chiefs of Staff of the three services; this being maintained since the status of CISC itself is deemed equivalent to that of a Vice Chief.
- To deal with any and all inter-service issues.
- To resolve inter-service disputes.
- To provide military recommendations to the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
=Structure=
Since its inception in 2001 the office of CISC is held on a rotational basis by the three armed services, with a three-star officer being the customary occupant.{{Cite web|url=https://cenjows.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Layouut_-Synergy-2.pdf|title=(SYNERGY) JOURNAL OF THE CENTRE FOR JOINT WARFARE STUDIES|website=cenjows.in}}
Additionally, the CISC is assisted by the undermentioned subordinate officers, all of whom are also three-star officers:
- Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning and Force Development) - DCIDS (PP&FD).{{Cite web|url=https://ssbcrackexams.com/what-is-integrated-defence-staff-2/#google_vignette|title=What Is Integrated Defence Staff? [Fully Explained]|website=ssbcrackexams.com}}
- Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training) - DCIDS (DOT).
- Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) - DCIDS (OPS).
- Director General Defence Intelligence Agency & Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence) - DGDIA & DCIDS (Int).
- Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Medical Branch) - DCIDS (Med).
List of officeholders
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}} ! rowspan=2| Portrait ! rowspan=2| Name ! colspan=3| Term of office ! rowspan=2| Service branch ! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |
| Took office
! Left office ! Time in office |
|---|
| {{Officeholder table
| order = 1 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = Pankaj Joshi | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 1 October 2001 | term_end = 30 September 2003 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2001|10|01|2003|09|30}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = | ref = {{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/10/02/stories/0102000c.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020926182132/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/10/02/stories/0102000c.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-09-26|website=The Hindu|title=Pankaj Joshi is new CIDS|access-date=2018-11-29}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = | military_rank = Vice Admiral | officeholder = Raman Puri | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 20 October 2003 | term_end = 28 February 2006 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2003|10|20|2006|02|28}} | defence_branch = {{navy|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = | ref = {{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2003/10/21/stories/2003102106601100.htm|title=Raman Puri takes over as CIDS|date=2003-10-21|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-01-16}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = H. S. Lidder | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 2 March 2006 | term_end = 30 September 2008 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2006|03|02|2008|09|30}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = | military_rank = Air Marshal | officeholder = Suresh Chandra Mukul | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 1 October 2008 | term_end = 30 December 2010 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2008|10|01|2010|12|30}} | defence_branch = {{air force|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = | ref = {{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Air-Marshal-S.C.-Mukul-bids-farewell/article15312886.ece|title=Air Marshal S.C. Mukul bids farewell|date=2008-09-29|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}{{cite web|title=Lt Gen Nagal is new Strategic Forces commander|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lt-gen-nagal-is-new-strategic-forces-commander/articleshow/3546079.cms|date=2008-09-30|access-date=2018-12-01}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = DK Joshi official portrait.jpg | military_rank = Vice Admiral | officeholder = Devendra Kumar Joshi | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 31 December 2010 | term_end = 3 July 2011 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2010|12|31|2011|07|03}} | defence_branch = {{navy|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha has taken over as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).jpg | military_rank = Vice Admiral | officeholder = Shekhar Sinha | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 4 July 2011 | term_end = 30 August 2011 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|07|04|2011|08|30}} | defence_branch = {{navy|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema has taken over as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), in New Delhi on August 31, 2012.jpg | military_rank = Vice Admiral | officeholder = S. P. S. Cheema | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 31 August 2011 | term_end = 1 November 2012 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|08|31|2012|11|01}} | defence_branch = {{navy|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 8 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = N. C. Marwah | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 2 November 2012 | term_end = 30 June 2013 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2012|11|02|2013|06|30}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 9 | image = Anil Chait CIDS.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = Anil Chait | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 1 July 2013 | term_end = 30 June 2014 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|07|01|2014|06|30}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 10 | image = P P Reddy CIDS.jpg | military_rank = Air Marshal | officeholder = P. P. Reddy | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 1 July 2014 | term_end = 30 October 2016 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|07|01|2016|10|30}} | defence_branch = {{air force|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = | ref = {{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=105972|title=Air Marshal PP Reddy Takes Over as CISC|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=2018-11-29}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/air-marshal-reddy-is-new-chief-of-integrated-defence-staff-114070100464_1.html|title=Air Marshal Reddy is new Chief of Integrated Defence Staff|last=IANS|date=2014-07-01|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-11-29}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 11 | image = Satish Dua CISC.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = Satish Dua | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 31 October 2016 | term_end = 31 October 2018 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2016|10|31|2018|10|31}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 12 | image = Lieutenant General P S Rajeshwar AVSM, VSM.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = P. S. Rajeshwar | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 1 November 2018 | term_end = 30 November 2019 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2018|11|01|2019|11|30}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 13 | image = R Hari Kumar.jpg | military_rank = Vice Admiral | officeholder = R. Hari Kumar | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 2 December 2019 | term_end = 28 February 2021 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|12|02|2021|02|28}} | defence_branch = {{navy|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 14 | image = Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, AVSM, VSM.jpg | military_rank = Vice Admiral | officeholder = Atul Kumar Jain | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 28 February 2021 | term_end = 30 September 2021 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|02|28|2021|09|30}} | defence_branch = {{navy|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 15 | image = Air Marshal BR Krishna took over as the AOC-in-C Western air command (cropped).jpg | military_rank = Air Marshal | officeholder = Balabhadra Radha Krishna | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 30 September 2021 | term_end = 31 March 2023 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|02|28|2021|09|30}} | defence_branch = {{air force|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} {{Officeholder table | order = 16 | image = LT GEN JOHNSON P MATHEW, UYSM, AVSM, VSM.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = Johnson P Mathew | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 03 April 2023 | term_end = 30 April 2025 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2023|04|03|2025|04|30}} | defence_branch = {{army|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = | ref = {{Cite web|url=https://www.ids.nic.in/cisc.php|title=Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff To The Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC)|publisher=HQ IDS|access-date=2023-05-24}}https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2125415 }} {{Officeholder table | order = 17 | image = Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.jpg | military_rank = Air Marshal | officeholder = Ashutosh Dixit | officeholder_sort = | term_start = 1 May 2025 | term_end = Incumbent | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2025|05|1}} | defence_branch = {{air force|India}} | alt_officeholder = | alt_officeholder_sort = | alt_officeholder_party = }} |
=List of CIDS by branches of service=
Indian Army - 7
Indian Navy - 6
Indian Air Force - 4
See also
=Inter-service offices=
=Other offices of the Indian Armed Forces=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ids.nic.in/cisc.php Official Website - CISC]
{{Military of India}}