New Chief of Defence Staff – Lt. General Anil Chauhan

New Chief of Defence Staff – Lt. General Anil Chauhan

The Union Government has appointed former Eastern Army Commander Lt. General Anil Chauhan as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

He will also function as Secretary to Government of India, Department of Military Affairs.

The post has been vacant since the death of the country’s first CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in December 2021.

In June, the Government amended Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force allowing retired Service Chiefs and three star rank officers eligible for consideration to the country’s top military post.

However, with an age limit imposed that the retired officer should not have attained 62 years on the date of appointment, retired Service Chiefs were largely ruled out especially so for the present consideration.

The CDS is a four-star General/Officer who acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-services (Army, Navy and Indian Air Force) matters.

He also acts as the military advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.

The CDS was created in 2019 for a dual role, as the most senior uniformed officer in rank (First among equals) and as a Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.