Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retd) Assumes Charge As India's Second CDS, Commits To Fulfill Expectations Of Three Defence Forces

In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Gen Chauhan had held several command, staff, and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in J&K and Northeast.

New Delhi: Gen Anil Chauhan, who assumed the charge of the ‘dual-hatted’ role of India’s new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said on Friday that all challenges and difficulties will be tackled together.

“I'm proud to be assuming the responsibility of the highest rank in the Indian Armed Forces. I will try to fulfill the expectations of the three defence forces as the Chief of Defence Staff. We will tackle all challenges & difficulties together, said CDS General Anil Chauhan, according to the news agency ANI.

A former eastern Army commander and director general of military operations (DGMO) was appointed as CDS on Wednesday after almost nine months since the post fell vacant following the death of Gen Bipin Rawat.

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan with Army chief Gen Manoj Pande and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari along with Navy vice chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade and Air Marshal BR Krishna were present at the ceremony. Gen Chauhan also received the Guard of Honour at the South Block on Friday.

CDS serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence. Gen Chauhan (retd) retired from the service in May last year when he was serving as the eastern Army Commander.

In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Gen Chauhan had held several command, staff, and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and Northeast.

He will be the first retired three-star officer to return to service in four-star rank. The new CDS will also oversee the ambitious Aatmanirbharta shift of the forces - a crucial indigenisation process.

It will be interesting to watch how he takes steps to fulfill his mandate of 'Indianisation' of the forces by shedding colonial baggage. For an organisation deeply serious about its customs and traditions, this oft-forgotten charter of the CDS may become the most contentious.

Operationally, the Chinese challenge looms large on the Northern Borders. The CDS will be a crucial stakeholder in formulating the long-term national strategy for the same. Lt Gen Chauhan, a former Eastern Army Commander, is well-known for his deep knowledge about the  Northern Borders and Tibet.