India on Wednesday named Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) the new Chief of Defence Staff, the country's top military officer and leader of one of the world's largest armed forces nine months after the death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash.
Lt Gen Chauhan, 61, had retired as Eastern Command Chief in May 2021 and was serving as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council, reports NDTV.
In a career spanning over nearly 40 years, he has held several appointments and has extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East.
Since this is the first time that a retired officer has been appointed to the position, the government issued a gazette notification to announce the change in rules for the appointment.
Born on May 18, 1961, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
