Gen. Bikram Singh is new chairman chiefs of staff committee

New Delhi – The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, who retires on the last day of the year, handed over the baton of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) to Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh here Monday.

Browne was a member of the COSC since Aug 1, 2011 and its chairman from Sep 1, 2012.

An IAF officer said Browne had actively pursued the case for establishing a permanent chairman of COSC and a decision on this would be taken in due course by the government.

The baton was handed over to Gen Singh at a special meeting of the chief of staffs committee.

The officer said a number of important operational, administrative and financial issues were resolved during Browne’s tenure as chairman COSC and chief of air staff.

The officer said that the three new tri-service commands – space, cyber and special operations – under active consideration by the defence ministry – were conceptualised and shaped during Browne’s tenure.

Browne had “vigorously pursued” issues such as establishing the Indian National Defence University and National War Memorial.

The Indian Air Force chief also took up the issues relating to the Seventh Pay Commission and “rank pay, which is still pending resolution”.

The central government had in September announced the constitution of the Seventh Pay Commission to revise salaries and pensions of its employees and pensioners.