Photo Gallery: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat takes charge today; check out his accoutrements, rank badges

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will be India's one-point military officer to help the Central government deal with defence affairs and will be a Four-Star officer. The position has been created under the Ministry of Defence and will head the Department of Military Affairs. All the integrated tri-services defence commands will be under the Chief of Defence Staff. As per the charter and duties, the CDS will act as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-services matters. The three service chiefs will continue to advise the Defence Minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective forces.

General Bipin Rawat is India's first CDS on December 30 just a day before he was to retire from service after completing a full three-year term as the Chief of Army Staff. The Chief of the Defence Staff on assumption of appointment will have his office in South Block. The CDS shall have a parent service uniform. The rank badges and accoutrements of the CDS reflect jointness, according to the Army.

India needs CDS as the country should not have a fragmented approach. Our entire military power will have to work in unison. All three (services) should move simultaneously at the same pace. Changing nature of war and security environment; Government conscious of National Security challenges. Recognition to military expertise in the department’s decision making. Breaking Silos: Integration, collaboration, convergence and rationalization. Meritocracy: Right person to do the right job.

General Rawat is an alumnus of the St Edward School in Shimla, the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. According to his profile on the Indian Army's website, General Rawat has commanded an infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, an infantry division in the Kashmir Valley and a corps in the Northeast.

Lt Gen Rawat had received the Sword of Honour at the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, and had over 10 years of hands-on experience in counter-insurgency operations, and that he'd served at both the Line of Control (with Pakistan) and the Line of Actual Control (with China).

The position of CDS was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee formed in the aftermath of the 1999 war with Pakistan and the Naresh Chandra Committee. Created with the aim of ensuring better synchronisation and understanding between the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, the CDS will also ensure optimum utilisation of the defence budget.

General Bipin Rawat called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan. On Monday, Rashtrapati Bhavan in a tweet had said, "General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, called on President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan."