Wagers were out on whether the baton for the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) was passed on for the last time, with General Bipin Rawat on September 27 assuming the tri-service leadership mantle for the remainder of his term as Chief of Army Staff.

As Army Chief, General Rawat's three-year term is due to end on December 31.

The post of Chief of Defence Staff, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech, will subsume the office of the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee when the decision is implemented.

A statement put out by the Ministry of Defence appeared to confirm speculation that General Bipin Rawat may be the first Chief of Defence Staff. "As the next Chairman COSC, General Rawat is focused to operationalise the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), enhance Tri-Service integration, stimulate simultaneous growth of the Services, rapid operationalisation and synchronisation of modern war fighting capabilities to ensure that the Armed Forces are well aligned to the future," it declared.

Observers read this an indication that the CDS will be announced before December 31, the scheduled date of retirement for General Rawat as Army Chief.

A statement put out by the Ministry of Defence appeared to confirm speculation that General Bipin Rawat may be the first Chief of Defence Staff. "As the next Chairman COSC, General Rawat is focused to operationalise the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), enhance Tri-Service integration, stimulate simultaneous growth of the Services, rapid operationalisation and synchronisation of modern war fighting capabilities to ensure that the Armed Forces are well aligned to the future," it declared

A committee headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is reportedly in the process of defining the mandate and charter of duties for the CDS.

The decision to appoint a CDS is being seen as the biggest reform in higher defence management.

It is expected that the CDS will be tasked with evolving joint doctrines and concept of operations, joint training, allocation of resources and prioritisation of procurements while the command of the forces will vest with the Service Chiefs.

The CDS will be a stand-alone appointment unlike that of the Chairman COSC, which is held by the senior-most Service Chief by rotation, co-terminus with the remainder of his tenure, as an additional responsibility. The CDS was envisaged by respective committees for the reform of higher defence management as the single-point military adviser to the Government. Whether or not he gets this status will be determined by the committee headed by the National Security Adviser but observers believe it is certain that the CDS will enjoy the protocol of first among equals with respect to Service Chiefs.

The baton of the Chairman COSC was passed on to General Rawat by the outgoing Chairman and Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who is retiring from service on September 30. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa was also given a formal farewell on this occasion by the Defence establishment.