After the death of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat on 8 December 2021, Centre has been holding on appointing his successor for almost an year now.
On Wednesday, the Union Government appointed Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) as the next CDS and he will also function as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs. Known as a great military professional, he carries a very rich and diverse experience in serving the nation. Anil Chauhan was first commissioned into 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981 and retired after 40 years of service in 2021.
Anil Chauhan was Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) when the Balakot air strike was conducted by Indian war planes in 2019 and he was the architect of Operation Sunrise, which targeted the insurgent camps in North East. Post his retirement in May 2021, Anil began to serve as Military Advisor to National Security Council (NSCS).