1) A year ago, the post of Chief of Defence Staff was created to promote jointness among India's armed forces. General Bipin Rawat took on this role on January 1, 2020. 2) While the CDS aims to optimize joint operations, training, logistics, and promote indigenization, India's response to the China border conflict showed no differences from past single-service responses. 3) A new acquisition policy was introduced but reduced the role of the Integrated Defence Staff in decision making, against the goal of promoting joint procurement and planning. Overall, operational jointness and a unified military vision remain to be seen from the new CDS structure.