Retired Lt. General Anil Chauhan Appointed As The Second CDS

Gen. Chauhan succeeds Gen. Bipin Rawat As Senior-Most Military Leader

The government chose retired Lt. General Anil Chauhan as the second Chief of Defence Staff on September 28. (CDS). He will also serve as the Department of Military Affairs Secretary (DMA). The ambitious theaterization plan, which aims to secure tri-service cohesion and equip the armed forces for future security challenges, was given to him when he became leader. General Chauhan, a former commander of the Eastern Army, succeeded Gen. Bipin Rawat as the country's senior-most military leader around ten months after Rawat's death in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). In addition to serving as the Defence Minister's principal military advisor on all issues relating to the three armed forces and as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he will also serve as the Department of Military Affairs' Secretary. He paid respects to the martyrs at the National War Memorial before taking over.

Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan's Biography

On May 18, 1961, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan was born. Lt Gen Anil Chauhan, a graduate of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, and the National Defense Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, joined the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. The general, a Major General, was in charge of an Infantry Division in the vital Baramulla region under Northern Command. Later, when he was a lieutenant general, he was in charge of a corps in the Northeast. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command from September 2019 until his military retirement in May 2021. In addition to these leadership posts, the officer held significant staff positions, such as the Director General of Military Operations. The officer had previously gone to Angola as part of a United Nations mission. Due to his affiliation with the National Security Council Secretariat, Lt Gen Chauhan continued to contribute to strategic and national security issues even after his retirement. Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (retd) handled a variety of command, staff, and supporting roles. He also had significant involvement in counterinsurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India.When he was the eastern Army Commander in May of last year, he announced his retirement from the military. For his honourable and exceptional service in the Army, the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal were given to retired Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan.

About CDS                                                 

The nine months it took and modifications to the eligibility requirements before the appointment could be made demonstrate how the CDS is still a developing organisation. The arbitrary adjustments that increased the number of applicants who may be appointed as CDS may have reduced the dignity of the developing post. A new department of military affairs was established inside the Ministry of Defence in 2019 with the CDS serving as its secretary. However, it did not guarantee that positions and functions within the Defence Ministry were clear. The CDS must balance both operational and administrative duties because he serves as both the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister. The roles and responsibilities of the CDS need to be made clearer, especially in regards to his connection with the Service Chiefs in terms of operational responsibilities and administrative responsibilities. While the theaterization process is expected to receive the majority of attention, he also has the duty of implementing fiscal responsibility and maximising the use of the defence budget, especially in light of the bleak economic forecast. The Ukrainian conflict has also brought attention to the necessity of stepping up efforts to develop domestic defence manufacturing capabilities and robust logistical networks in order to properly prepare for future conflicts.

Challenges Ahead For New CDS

The country's least desirable position is assumed by the new CDS. He'll have a lot of difficulties. First, he should be aware that onlookers will examine his actions and statements to determine if he represents the forces that deal with the government or the government that deals with the forces. The theaterization of India for upcoming conflicts comes next. The new CDS enters the nation's tumultuous political-military seas with a challenging assignment ahead of him. He has a fine line to tread between the government, its bureaucrats, its economy, its research and development, its military industrial complex, the three services, and the nation's future military prowess. It will be interesting to see how he handles them and the initiatives from his predecessor. The highest ranking officer of the Indian armed forces is looked up to by the country, its soldiers past and present, and they anticipate a decent answer from him.