The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) is the statutory office that heads the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), the principal inter-service syndicate of the Indian Armed Forces.[5] Customarily held by a three-star officer nominated from either of India's three armed services, the CISC is the second-highest authority responsible for inter-service jointness, subordinate only to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).[6]
By function, the CISC is the executive-in-charge of the IDS, and thus, maintains oversight over inter-service coordination on crucial disciplines related to military functioning, specifically, intelligence, doctrine, joint planning, budgetary allocations and training.[1] In addition, the CISC serves as a non-voting member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee - of which the CDS is its Chairman; thus by definition, the CISC reports to the CDS, who is the final authority on military jointness.[1]
As the penultimate authority (second only to the CDS) tasked with the affairs of inter-service administration of the armed forces, the CISC participates in two crucial bodies: the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).[9]
Chiefs of Staff Committee
The COSC is an inter-service syndicate of the armed forces, which functions as a principal advisory body dealing with matters related to inter-service coordination, policy formulation and strategy development. It comprises the CDS - who acts as its Permanent Chairman and the Chiefs of Staff of the three armed services; the CISC is also a member, albeit a non-voting one.[9]
To supervise and control the IDS - which acts as the arm-cum-secretariat of the CDS and the COSC.[9]
To supervise the co-ordination of Long Range Plans, Five Years Plans and Annual Budgetary proposals for the three services and presenting coordinated set of proposals to Minister of Defence after discussion with Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Secretary.[9]
To coordinate, analyze, assess and remove the impact of any discovered critical deficiencies on the three armed services.[9]
To coordinate, conduct and plan inter-service training.[9]
Vice Chief's Committee
In addition to the COSC, the CISC chairs the VCC, which comprises the Vice Chiefs of Staff of the three services; this being maintained since the status of CISC itself is deemed equivalent to that of a Vice Chief.[9]
Since its inception in 2001 the office of CISC is held on a rotational basis by the three armed services, with a three-star officer being the customary occupant.[10]
Additionally, the CISC is assisted by the undermentioned subordinate officers, all of whom are also three-star officers:
Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning and Force Development) - DCIDS (PP&FD).[11]
Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training) - DCIDS (DOT).[11]
Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) - DCIDS (OPS).[11]
Director General Defence Intelligence Agency & Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence) - DGDIA & DCIDS (Int).[11]
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