Who is Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd), the new CDS of India? 12 Facts -

New Delhi, Sept 29: Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan (retired) PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, has been appointed new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), nine months after General Bipin Rawat passed away in a tragic helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu. He is only the second person to be appointed to the position after General Bipin Rawat. He will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, starting on the day he assumes responsibility and continuing until further orders.

 

1. In a career spanning over nearly 40 years, Lt Gen 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.

 

2. Born on 18th May 1961, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981.

 

 

 

3. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

 

4. In the rank of Maj General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramula sector in the Northern Command and later as Lt General, he commanded a corps in the North East.

 

5. Further, he went to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command from September 2019. He was the GoC Eastern Command when the Galwan clashes took place in Ladakh. He held the charge until his retirement from the service on 30 May 2021.

 

6. In addition to these command appointments, the officer also tenanted important staff appointments including the charge of Director General of Military Operations.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

9. 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.

 

10. It is the first time that a retired officer has been appointed as CDS. The government also issued a gazette notification regarding the change in rules for appointments.

 

11. Lt Gen Chauhan is 61 now and according to the government's notification, the tenure of CDS can be extended up to 65 years. As a CDS now, Lt Gen Chauhan is senior to the three serving chiefs - General Manoj Pande, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, and Admiral R Hari Kumar. He was junior in rank before becoming the CDS, but older in age.

 

12. Lt Gen Chauhan is also from the same regiment as General Bipin Rawat - 11 Gorkha Rifles. Chauhan is from the 6th battalion of 11 GR, while Rawat was from 5/11 GR.