Lt General (Retd) Anil Chauhan Named Next Chief Of Defence Staff, Nine Months After Gen Bipin Rawat's Death

The Centre on Wednesday appointed Lt General (Retired) Anil Chauhan as the next Chief of Defence Staff, nine months after former CDS Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash. Lt General (Retd) Anil Chauhan will also function as Secretary to the government, Department of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Defence said.

Announcing his appointment, the Defence Ministry said, "In a career spanning over nearly 40 years, Lt Gen (Retd) Anil 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 Gen (Retd) Chauhan had retired as the Eastern Army Commander in May 2021. He was serving as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council. This is the first time that a retired officer has been appointed at this position for which a gazette notification was issued to announce the change in rules for the appointment.

With this, Lt Gen Chauhan became the second Chief of Defence Staff of India. The position had been lying vacant since December 8, 2021, when India's first CDS Bipin Rawat was killed, along with his wife and 12 others. The former armed forces chief was travelling to Sulur Air Force Base when the Indian Air Force Mi-17 plane crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

General Rawat had taken over the role of the CDS in January 2020. A CDS is the most senior uniformed officer who heads the three main military sevices -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- in the country. 

Who Is Lt Gen (Retd) Anil Chauhan

Born on May 18, 1961, Lt Gen (Retd) Anil Chauhan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981.

As Major General, he had led an Infantry Division in the critical Baramula sector in the Northern Command. He went on to become the Lieutenant General and commanded a corps in the North East.

In September 2019, Lt Gen (Retd) Chauhan became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, a post he held until his retirement from the service in May 31, 2021.

Earlier, the officer had also served as a United Nations mission to Angola.

Even after his retirement from the Army, he continued to contribute to national security and strategic matters.

For his distinguished and illustrious service in the Army, Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

(With ANI inputs)