New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (August 15) hoisted the national flag on the 73rd Independence Day at the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi.

Modi, dressed in a white kurta-pyjama and a colourful turban, was received by defence minister Rajnath Singh at the Red Fort. He then inspected the Guard of Honour.

Before heading to the Red Fort, he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

In a major decision, PM Modi announced to constitute a chief of defence staff (CDS) as head of the tri-services.

Modi made the key announcement in his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day.

PM Modi said that the CDS would ensure synergy among the three services and provide effective leadership to them.

"Our government has decided to have a chief of defence staff- CDS," Modi said.

A high-level committee has been set up to examine the gaps in the country's security system in the wake of the Kargil War in 1999. And this has called for the appointment of a chief of defence staff as a single-point military adviser to the defence minister.

A group of ministers analysing required reforms in the national security system had also favoured appointing a chief of defence staff.

In 2012, the Naresh Chandra Task Force had recommended creating the post of a permanent chairman of the chiefs of staff committee.

The CSC comprises chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, and the senior-most among them acts as its chairman as per existing norm.