India's New Chief of Defence Staff takes charge

General Anil Chauhan takes charge as new CDS [Chief of Defence Staff] of India on 30th September 2022. He is the second Chief of Defence Staff after CDS General Bipin Rawat who passed away on 8th December 2021. General Anil Chauhan's appointment as CDS was announced by the Government of India on 28th September 2022. As CDS he will also be secretary to the department of military affaires, chairman of the chief of staff committe and military adviser to the defence minister.

Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1981. He was the Director General of Military Operations [DGMO] during the Balakot airstrike [popularly known as surgical strike] in 2019. He retired as the Army commander on 31st May 2021. After that till this appintment he was serving as the military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat headed by Natoinal Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The retired Senior Army Officers could be appointed as CDS and can serve until the age of 65 years.

As he assumed charge, he said “I’m proud to be assuming the responsibility of the highest rank in the Indian Armed Forces. I will try to fulfill the expectations from the three defence forces as the Chief of Defence Staff. We will tackle all challenges and difficulties together,”