Gen Anil Chauhan is the new Chief of Defence Staff
By Gulshan Luthra
New Delhi. The Government has appointed former Army Commander Lt Gen Anil Chauhan as the country’s second CDS, succeeding Gen Bipin Rawat who had perished in an unfortunate helicopter crash nine months back.
He has also been promoted to the rank of General, and like his predecessor, he will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, equivalent to the Civil Service officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Notably though, the responsibility for the defence of the country procedurally vests with the Defence Secretary, as the civil services constitutionally have precedence over the military services.
As CDS, Gen Chauhan will be the first among the equals, the four-star Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and preside over their meetings.
After ceremonially taking over on September 30, Gen Chauhan said he would do his best as CDS to fulfil the hopes, aspirations and responsibilities of the three Services and together with them, in coordination, meet the security challenges faced by the country.
His appointment term has not been specified but a CDS can continue till the age of 65.
Obviously, the process for integration of the assets and strengths of the three Services, initiated under Gen Bipin Rawat, will continue. Gen Rawat’s appointment as CDS was from 1 January 2020 for three years till 2023 but was cut short due to the helicopter crash on 8 December 2021 in which he unfortunately perished.
In an interaction with this writer shortly before he lost his life, Gen Bipin Rawat said that integration would help in best possible utilisation of assets as for instance, “a same picture from a same satellite could be interpreted differently by the three Services in accordance with their perspective and requirements.”
Lt Gen Chauhan was shortlisted to succeed Gen Rawat from a list of 20 to 30 three star and four star Officers from the three Services, including the serving and retired Chiefs. An official statement said Lt Gen’s Chauhan’s tenure would begin after he takes over till further orders.
According to the official statement released by the Ministry of defence, the new CDS retired after serving in the Indian Army for 40 years and had held various Staff, Command and other instrumental appointments. He also has vast experience in handling counter-insurgency operations – both in North-East India as well as Jammu & Kashmir.
He was also General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command from September 2019 and held the charge until his retirement from the Army in May 2021.
Before that, he held the key assignment of Director General Military Operations (DGMO), and has served on the UN Mission to Angola.
The statement said: After his retirement, Lt Gen Chauhan continued to contribute to national security and strategic matters. For his distinguishe and illustrious service in the Army, Lt Gen Chauhan was awarded the Param Vishshist Seva Medal (PVSM), Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished service during his tenure of 40 years.
Born on 18 May, 1961, Lt Gen Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasla, and Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
