New Delhi. Soon after assuming on January one, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat held the first meeting with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQIDS) branch heads where he made a strong push for Inter-Service jointness.

At the meeting with important functionaries of HQIDS, he wished them on the New Year and directed various branch heads to come up with recommendations for inter-service synergy and jointness in a time bound manner.

The CDS also directed that a proposal to create Air Defence Command be prepared by June 30, 2020. He also set out priorities for execution of synergy by June 30 and December, 31 2020. Some of the areas identified for jointness and synergy include creation of common logistics support pools in stations where two or more services have their presence.

Emphasizing collegiate system of functioning, General Rawat directed that all three services and Coast Guard must be consulted and their views obtained in a time bound manner. Decisions will, however, be taken to ensure optimisation of resources. Efforts will be made to cut out infrastructure ceremonial activities, which are manpower intensive.

The CDS stressed that all must work towards accomplishing desired results and coming up with healthy views and ideas.