Army reforms: Deputy Chief of Strategy post has been approved by Govt.

A MAJOR restructure at the military Headquarters, the necessity that was first felt during the 2017 Doklam crisis, has finally been approved by the govt . In an order issued on December 2, the govt has given its nod to make the position of a 3rd Deputy Chief of Army, who will act as a “single-point advice” person to the Vice Chief of Army on operational issues.

The new Deputy Chief (Strategy) will head operations, intelligence, perspective and knowledge warfare. The Directorate General of Military Operations and therefore the Directorate General of Military Intelligence, both headed by Lieutenant General-rank officers, are going to be under him. Two new offices, for Perspective Planning and Strategic Communications, which can even be headed by director generals of Lt Gen-rank, also will come under the new Deputy Chief.

Current DGMO Lt Gen Paramjit Singh is probably going to be appointed the primary Deputy Chief (Strategy). Sources within the defense establishment said that since the sanction letter has been received from the govt , the changes will start rolling out immediately.

Last year, a presentation had been given to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh about the proposed changes to restructure the military Headquarters, as a part of one among the four studies for reforms within the Army.

The need for the creation of the single-point advice person for the Vice Chief was felt during the standoff with China in Doklam in 2017. Sources had said earlier that this was because everything was under different verticals, and a number of other officers would offer similar inputs. A committee for planning and operations was then created, and later it had been felt that it should become a part of the permanent structure.

Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat had commissioned four studies in June 2018, because the Army Chief then, for reforms within the Army.

The four studies were instituted with an overall aim to reinforce the operational and functional efficiency of the force, optimize budget expenditure, facilitate modernization and address aspirations. the advice to make the new posts was made as a results of the studies.