UNIFIED COMMAND OF ARMED FORCES

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LOK SABHA

Neither have the three wings of the Armed Forces viz. the Army, the Navy and the Air Force been unified nor is there any such proposal under consideration of the Government at present. However, based on the recommendation of the Group of Ministers constituted to reform the National Security System in its entirety, joint structures such as ‘Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff’ and Joint ‘Andaman & Nicobar Command’ have been established with a view to ensure the most optimal utilization of the available resources. Further, higher Administrative and Financial powers have also been delegated to the three Services to ensure expeditious decision making. These newly established structures have also been vested with the higher authority at par with their counterparts in the three Services.

The Group of Ministers had amongst others recommended creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff. Pending wider consultations with the political parties, a final decision in this regard has not been taken as yet.

This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply to Shri G Putta Swamy Gowda in Lok Sabha today.