Who is Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retd) appointed as next CDS, after 9 months gap?

New Delhi: After almost a gap of 9 months, Modi government has appointed Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

He will also serve as the Secretary to Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, the defence ministry said in a statement.

How long Lt General Anil Chauhan served in Army?

Having spent over 40 years in the Army, Lt General Anil Chauhan has held several posts and commanded many key responsibilities in his long career including couter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and also the North-Eastern states.

Born in year 1961, the celebrated officer got commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

Among the many charges, he commanded Infantry Division in Baramula sector in Northern Command in the capacity of Major General. He later became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command in 2019 and retained the charge till his retirement in 2021.

What honours Lt General earned in his career?

Lt General Anil Chauhan superannuated from the Indian Army on May 31, 2021. However, even after his retirement from service, he continued his service for emboldening national security & strategic affairs.

It was for his illustrious & exemplary service in the Armed Forces, Lt General Anil Chauhan was awarded with many honours including Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Lt General Anil Chauhan will have a momentous task of developing a synergy between all three wings of armed forces, a job that was left stuck after the demise of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash.