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Anil Chauhan

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General
Anil Chauhan
PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM ADC
Official portrait, 2022
2nd Chief of Defence Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 September 2022 (2022-09-30)
PresidentDroupadi Murmu
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Minister of DefenceRajnath Singh
Preceded byBipin Rawat (2021)
58th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 September 2022 (2022-09-30)
PresidentDroupadi Murmu
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Minister of DefenceRajnath Singh
Preceded byManoj Mukund Naravane (acting)
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
In office
1 September 2019 (2019-09-01) – 31 May 2021 (2021-05-31)
Chief of Army Staff
Preceded byManoj Mukund Naravane
Succeeded byManoj Pande
Personal details
Born (1961-05-18) 18 May 1961 (age 63)
Gwana, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttar Pradesh (present–day Uttarakhand), India
[1]
SpouseAnupama Chauhan
Children1
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Army
Years of service13 June 1981 – 31 May 2021
30 September 2022 – present (as CDS)
Rank General
Unit 11th Gorkha Rifles
Commands
Service numberIC-39492A
Awards

General Anil Chauhan PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM ADC (born 18 May 1961) is a four-star general of the Indian Army, who is the current and 2nd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, since 30 September 2022.[2][3]

On 28 September 2022, Gen Chauhan was recalled from retirement and was appointed as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by the Narendra Modi-led government, following a June 2022 notification which permitted military retirees under the age of 62 to be qualified for the post.[4] Assuming charge two days later, he became the first three-star retiree to be appointed to the post, traditionally held by a four-star officer.[4] He succeeded General Bipin Rawat, the inaugural holder of the post, who had died in a helicopter crash in December 2021.[5]

Early life

[edit]

Anil Chauhan was born in a Hindu Garhwali Rajput family of Chauhan clan on 18 May 1961, hailing from the Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand.[6] After completing his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya at Fort William, Kolkata, he joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (NDA) as part of the 58 Course in year. He subsequently joined to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun (IMA) as part of the 68 Course in 1980.[7][8] He is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command and National Defence College courses.[9]

Military career

[edit]

Gen Chauhan was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 6th Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles (6/11 GR) on 13 June 1981 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. The general officer's staff and instructional assignments include Instructional tenure at HQ IMTRAT, Bhutan, Military Observer on a UN Mission to Angola, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of the Mountain Division, Director, Perspective & Planning (TAS) at Army HQ, Chief of Staff at HQ 15 Corps and Director General of Discipline Ceremonial & Welfare.

As a Major general, he commanded the Baramulla-based 19th Infantry Division of the Northern Command. In 2017, on promotion to the rank of Lieutenant general, he was appointed General officer commanding of the Dimapur-based III Corps.[10][11] In January 2018, he was appointed Director General Military Operations (DGMO), during the course of which he oversaw the execution of two key military operations: the 2019 Balakot airstrike against Pakistan and Operation Sunrise - a joint India-Myanmar counterinsurgency offensive.[12]

On 1 September 2019, he took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command succeeding Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane upon his elevation as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.[13][14] He superannuated on 31 May 2021 and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Manoj Pande. [15] Following his retirement from active military service he served as a military advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), headed by Ajit Doval, India's fifth National Security Advisor.[12]

Return to military service

[edit]

Chief of Defence Staff

[edit]
See also: 2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash

On 8 December 2021, Gen. Bipin Rawat, the inaugural Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), died when his Mil Mi-17 helicopter carrying him and 13 others, crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.[16] Gen Rawat, who had only been in the post for twenty-three months, had no immediate successor to him, as the position of CDS had no defined order of succession, which led to it becoming vacant.[17] Amidst growing uncertainty over the impending choice of appointing a successor, the Union Government appointed Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, the then-Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), as an acting functionary to the position of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (Chairman COSC), as an interim successor in an effort to temporarily oversee Gen Rawat's responsibilities, while simultaneously looking for a successor.[18] Gen Naravane, then the senior most chief amongst the three branches of the armed forces, was himself reported to be a plausible successor; however, his retirement in April 2022 put an end to those speculations.[19][20]

In June 2022, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a gazette notification, which stated that any three-star officer under the age of 62 - lieutenant general, vice admiral or air marshal, whether serving or retired, would be considered qualified candidates eligible to appointed as CDS.[21] The notification subsequently made Gen Chauhan, who had already retired as a lieutenant general at the age of 60, one of the key frontrunners in the pool of qualified candidates.[22] Around the time of the notification's release, Gen Chauhan was one of 14 candidates from the army, comprising both serving and retired commanders, who were eligible for the position.[23]

On 28 September 2022, the MoD released an official statement announcing that Gen Chauhan had been selected as the new CDS, which subsequently concluded the position's nine-month vacancy.[24][25]

Personal life

[edit]

General Chauhan is married to Anupama, an artist.[7] The couple have a daughter, Pragya.[7] An art enthusiast, he is a keen admirer of Tibetan art, a fact which he attributed to his wife.[7] As a general officer and later as CDS, Gen Chauhan's life bore several similarities to Gen Rawat's; both men were commissioned in the same regiment, the 11th Gorkha Rifles and also hailed from the same ancestral region, the Pauri Garhwal district.[26] As fellow officers, Gen Rawat was said to have held Gen Chauhan with high esteem; in 2022, when a military garrison along the Line of Actual Control was renamed after him, Gen Chauhan was amongst the dignitaries present at the renaming ceremony.[27][28] Chauhan is also said to be close with Ajit Doval, with whom he had closely worked with during his retirement.[29]

Apart from his service in the military, Gen Chauhan authored two books: Aftermath of A Nuclear Attack - an analytic detailing the effects of a nuclear fallout, which was published in 2010 and History of 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre, a chronicle of the regiment he wrote during his stint as its commander.[7][30] According to Chauhan's known acquaintances, he is reputed to be an steady golfer and an ardent collector of masks.[31][32]

Honours and decorations

[edit]
President Kovind presenting the Param Vishisht Seva Medal to Lt. General Anil Chauhan.

Over the span of his military career across four decades, Gen Chauhan received numerous military decorations. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, the Sena Medal in 2014, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2018, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.[33][34][35]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal MONUA

Dates of rank

[edit]
Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Second Lieutenant Indian Army 13 June 1981[36]
Lieutenant Indian Army 13 June 1983[37]
Captain Indian Army 13 June 1986[38]
Major Indian Army 13 June 1992[39]
Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 16 December 2004[40]
Colonel Indian Army 1 October 2005[41]
Brigadier Indian Army 1 June 2009 (seniority from 8 June 2008)[42]
Major General Indian Army 1 January 2014 (seniority from 7 October 2011)[43]
Lieutenant General Indian Army 1 July 2016[44]
General
(CDS)		 Indian Armed Forces
(tri-service)		 30 September 2022

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lt Gen Chauhan's village in Uttarakhand celebrates his appointment as CDS". Deccan Herald. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd) appointed as new Chief of Defence Staff". www.aninews.in. 28 September 2022.
  3. ^ "General Anil Chauhan takes charge as Chief of Defence Staff". India Today. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Why the Elevation of Lt Gen. Anil Chauhan as CDS Is Extraordinary". thewire.in. 29 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Next Chief appointed Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (retired) appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff". www.thehindubusinessline.com. 28 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Who is Lt Gen Anil Chauhan: Here's everything about India's new Chief of Defence Staff". www.freepressjournal.in. 28 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Calcutta shaped me as a soldier: Lt Gen. Anil Chauhan". www.telegraphindia.com.
  8. ^ Negi, Manjeet (28 September 2022). "Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd) is India's 2nd Chief of Defence Staff". India Today. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  9. ^ "GENERAL ANIL CHAUHAN, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF (CDS)".
  10. ^ "Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan is new GOC 3 Corps". www.easternmirrornagaland.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Lt Gen Anil Chauhan takes over as GOC Spear Corps 20170101". e-pao.net. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Centre appoints 'China expert' Lt Gen Anil Chauhan as new CDS". theprint.in. 28 September 2022.
  13. ^ Gupta, Jayanta (1 September 2019). "Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan takes over as Eastern Army Commander". The Times of India.
  14. ^ "Lt Gen Naravane relinquishes charge of Eastern Command, to take over as VCOAS". 31 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Lt Gen Manoj Pande relinquishes Command of Andaman & Nicobar Command". Press Information Bureau (Government of India). Press Information Bureau. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Archive - Bipin Rawat: Tributes for India's top general who died in helicopter crash". www.bbc.com. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022.
  17. ^ "DNA Explainer: Amid no clear line of succession, why it's necessary to appoint a new CDS". www.dnaindia.com. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Army Chief General MM Naravane takes charge as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee". www.newindianexpress.com. 15 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Chief of the Army Staff Gen Naravane tipped to be new CDS; Lt Gen MC Pande to succeed as COAS". government.economictimes.indiatimes.com. 12 April 2022.
  20. ^ "General Naravane hangs boots, but mystery over next CDS remains". www.thehindubusinessline.com. 30 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Centre makes key changes in eligibility rules for appointment". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 7 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Govt appoints Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retd) as new Chief of Defence Staff". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 28 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Archice - Govt notifies eligibility for appointment of Chief of Defence Staff". www.business-standard.com. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
  24. ^ "Archive - PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING)" (PDF). www.mod.gov.in. 28 September 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Who Is Anil Chauhan, The New Chief Of Defence Staff?". www.outlookindia.com. 28 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Lt General Anil Chauhan Named India's New Chief Of Defence Staff". www.businessworld.in. 28 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) appointed new Chief of Defence staff". www.telegraphindia.com. 28 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Military garrison close to LAC renamed after CDS Bipin Rawat". v. 12 September 2022.
  29. ^ "New Chief of Defence Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (retired) appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff". ww.thehindubusinessline.com. 28 September 2022.
  30. ^ Chauhan, Anil (2010). Aftermath of a Nuclear Attack: A Case Study on Post-strike Operations. ISBN 9788182744905.
  31. ^ "New CDS a border expert, collector of masks, keen golfer". www.hindustantimes.com. 29 September 2022.
  32. ^ "Archive - A journey around the world, one mask at a time". www.telegraphindia.com. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022.
  33. ^ "LIST OF PERSONNEL BEING CONFERRED GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED AWARDS ON THE OCCASION OF REPUBLIC DAY-2020" (PDF). static.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  34. ^ "390 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced".
  35. ^ "Ashok Chakra Awarded to NK Neeraj Kumar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles (Posthumous) 374 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  36. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 24 July 1982. p. 1090.
  37. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 19 November 1983. p. 1670.
  38. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 March 1987. p. 414.
  39. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 19 December 1992. p. 2230.
  40. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1890.
  41. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 September 2006. p. 1295.
  42. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 25 June 2011. p. 1180.
  43. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 August 2015. p. 2132.
  44. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 31 December 2016. p. 2678.
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of Defence Staff
30 September 2022 - Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
31 August 2019 – 31 May 2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director General of Military Operations
30 January 2018 – 31 August 2019 		Succeeded by
Paramjit Singh
Preceded by General Officer Commanding III Corps
1 January 2017 – 8 January 2018 		Succeeded by
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