Lt Gen Anil Chauhan became the second CDS of the country

Nine months after the death of General Bipin Rawat, the government on Wednesday named Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (retired) as the new Chief of Defense Staff (CDS). Anil Chauhan has been the commander of the country’s DGMAO, Eastern Command of the Army. He retired only last year after serving for 40 years in the army. These days he was posted as Military Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat.

The Defense Ministry said that the Government of India has appointed Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retd) as the next Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), who will also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, Government of India. The Defense Ministry said that in a career spanning over 40 years, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retd) has held several commands. He has vast experience of counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India. The military post of CDS was vacant since the death of General Bipin Rawat.

General Rawat died in a helicopter crash

India’s first Chief of Defense Staff General Rawat and his wife were killed after a military helicopter crashed in Tamil Nadu in December last year. A total of 13 people were killed in this accident. The only survivor of the accident, Air Force One Group Captain, later died of serious burns.

This post was created to bring the three armies together

63-year-old General Rawat took charge as India’s first Chief of Defense Staff in January 2020. This post was created to integrate the three services- Army, Navy and Air Force. The Chief of Defense Staff is the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and apart from imparting impartial advice to the political leadership, is also the Chief Military Adviser to the Defense Minister.