Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Retired lieutenant General Anil Chauhan has been appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Key Points:

• The post of Chief of Defence Staff was vacant for over 9 months since the death of the first CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat who lost his life in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district in December 2021.
• He was appointed by the Central Government on September 28, 2022.
• He will also work as a Secretary, to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs from the date of his assumption of charge.
• Additionally, he will advise the Prime Minister-led Nuclear Command Authority.

About Gen. Chauhan:

• General Anil Chauhan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
• He has over 40 years of experience.
• He has held several key command, staff and instrumental appointments.
• He was involved in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India.
• He served as part of the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army.
• In the rank of Major General, he commanded the Infantry Division in Baramula sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
• When he became Lieutenant General, he commanded a Corps in the North East and later went on to become the Eastern Army Commander in September 2019.
• He headed the Eastern Army Command until his retirement on May 31, 2021.
• He retired from the post of Lieutenant in May 2021.
• After his retirement, he became the military advisor to the national security advisor Ajit Doval and the national security council secretariat in October 2021.
• Apart from holding commanding posts, he also served as the Director General of Military Operations.

About Chief of Defence Staff (CDS):

• The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces is the military head and permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The CDS is the highest-ranking uniformed officer on active duty in the Indian military and chief military adviser to the Minister of Defence.
• The Chief also heads the Department of Military Affairs.
• The CDS is assisted by a vice-chief, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
• The first Chief of Defence Staff was General Bipin Rawat, took office on 1 January 2020.

Background:

• The post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was created in December 2019.
• The position was created with the aim of improving coordination, tri-service effectiveness and overall integration of the combat capabilities of the Indian armed forces.
• The CDS would act as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister and the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).
• He is the ex-officio secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), which was created as the fifth department of the Ministry of Defence.
• Setting the stage for appointment of the CDS, the government amended Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force, allowing retired Service Chiefs and three-star officers eligible for consideration for the country’s top military post.
• The age limit for the CDS is 65 years of age without any fixed tenure.

Awards and Honours:

• Lt. Chauhan received the Param Vishist Seva Medal for his distinguished and illustrious service in the army.
• He was also awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Vishist Seva Medal. 
• After retirement also Lt. Chauhan continued to work on national security and strategic matters.