What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs?

1. Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee
2. Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs
3. Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-service matters Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) heads the Department of Military Affairs and performs the following key duties:

• Acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all Tri-Service matters.
• Functions as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
• Administers Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
• Is a member of the Defence Acquisition Council.
• Functions as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
• Works to bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs, and maintenance among the three services.
• Ensures optimal utilization and rationalization of infrastructure through jointness.
• Implements the Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans.
• Assigns inter-services prioritization to capital acquisition proposals based on the anticipated budget.
• Brings about reforms in the functioning of the three Services to augment combat capabilities by reducing wasteful expenditure.

Notably, the CDS does not exercise military command over the three service chiefs.

Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is not correct. Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.