Anil Chauhan
General Anil Chauhan PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM (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.
Anil Chauhan PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM | |
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Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 2nd Chief of Defence Staff | |
| Assumed office 30 September 2022 | |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Minister of Defence | Rajnath Singh |
| Preceded by | Bipin Rawat (2021) |
| 58th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee | |
| Assumed office 30 September 2022 | |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Minister of Defence | Rajnath Singh |
| Preceded by | Manoj Mukund Naravane (Acting) |
| General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command | |
| In office 1 September 2019 – 31 May 2021 | |
| Chief of the Army Staff |
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| Preceded by | Manoj Mukund Naravane |
| Succeeded by | Manoj Pande |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 May 1961 Gwana, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttar Pradesh, India (now in Uttarakhand, India) |
| Spouse | Anupama Chauhan |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch/service | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 13 June 1981 – 31 May 2021 30 September 2022 – present (as CDS) |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | 11th Gorkha Rifles |
| Commands | |
| Service number | IC-39492A |
| Awards |
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On 28 September 2022, 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. 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. He succeeded General Bipin Rawat, the inaugural holder of the post, who had died nine months earlier in a helicopter crash in December 2021.