Centre names Lt Gen Anil Chauhan as new CDS Chief of Defence Staff

The Centre has named Lt Gen retd Anil Chauhan as the new CDS Chief of Defence Staff. He will replace General Bipin Rawat, who died last year. Since then, the position had been vacant. Chauhan served from 2019 to 2021 as the GOC-in-charge of Eastern Command. He retired in May 2021. He will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs.

In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Chauhan had held several command, staff, and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu Kashmir and North-East India.

Lt GenGen Anil Chauhan was born in May 1961 and commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1981. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy NDA Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

In the rank of Major General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramula sector of the Northern Command. He later commanded a corps in the North East and went to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command from September 2019 and held the charge until his retirement from the service in May 2021.

In addition to these command appointments, the officer also held important staff appointments, including the charge of the director general of military operations. The officer had also served as a United Nations mission to Angola earlier in the day.

After his retirement, Chauhan continued to contribute to national security and strategic matters. Chauhan was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.