New Delhi: The Central government on Thursday agreed to the creation of a new post called ‘deputy chief of the army staff (strategy)’ to oversee military operations and strategic planning as part of mega reforms at the army headquarters. An order was issued to this effect on Thursday, December 2, according to a report by The Indian Express.
The said position will be the third deputy chief of the army, who is expected to act as a “single-point-advice” person to the vice chief of the army on operational issues. Lieutenant general Paramjit Singh, who is currently serving as director general of military operations (DMGO), is expected to occupy the new position.
The creation of a new position has been recommended by four studies commissioned by the army headquarters in June 2018. The studies were commissioned with an aim to improve the operational and functional efficiency of the force, optimise budget expenditure, facilitate modernisation, and address aspirations, according to PTI.
Also read: This Independence Day, India Must Commit to Long-Pending Defence Reforms
The need for instituting a new position, deputy chief of army staff (strategy), was necessitated during the 2017 standoff with China in Doklam. It was observed that several officials working under different verticals were providing the same inputs to the army. It was then a steering committee for planning and operations was created, and later it was felt that it should become part of the permanent structure resulting in the new position, according to the Indian Express report.
The deputy chief of army staff (strategy) will lead operations, perspective, and information warfare. The director general of military operations and the director general of military intelligence will be reporting to the office of the new deputy chief. Two new offices, perspective planning and strategic communications, will also come under him.
Meanwhile, the government has also completed the formalities for the creation of another new post of director general of information warfare, which has been created keeping in mind the requirements of the future battlefield, hybrid warfare, and social media realities, according to PTI.
Although the government had given in-principle approval for the creation of new posts at the army headquarters last year, the formal procedure of issuing orders and completing formalities has just begun.