Govt extends tenure of CDS General Chauhan by 8 months

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension of service of General Anil Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) up to May 30, 2026, or until further orders. 

• Gen Chauhan, 64, was appointed as CDS on September 28, 2022.

• Gen Chauhan’s current stint was scheduled to end on September 30.

• While the age-limit for the three service chiefs is 62 years or three years of service, whichever is earlier, the age limit for the CDS is 65 years with no fixed tenure defined.

• As per existing norms, the government may extend the services of the Chief of Defence Staff for a maximum of 65 years.

• Gen Chauhan assumed charge of the CDS, more than nine months after the post fell vacant following the death of Gen Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash.

Who is Gen Anil Chauhan?

• Born on May 18, 1961, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. 

• In a career spanning over 40 years, Gen Anil Chauhan (retd) held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and Northeast India.

• He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. 

• As the Eastern Army Commander, he played a significant role in bolstering India’s overall combat readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.

• In the rank of Maj General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramulla sector in the Northern Command. 

• Later as Lt General, he commanded a corps in the Northeast and subsequently went to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command from September 2019.

• In addition to these command appointments, the officer also tenanted important staff appointments including the charge of Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). Earlier, the officer had also served on a United Nations mission to Angola. 

• He was the DGMO of the Army during the Balakot air strikes in 2019.

• He retired from service in May 2021 in the rank of Lt General.

• He assumed the rank of the four-star General after taking charge as India's second Chief of Defence Staff.

The duties and functions of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) include:

• To facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of theatre commands.

• To head the Department of Military Affairs in the ministry of defence and function as its secretary.

• To act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all tri-Service matters.

• To function as the permanent chairman of the chiefs of staff committee.

• To administer the tri-Service organisations/agencies/commands.

• To be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by the defence minister.

• To function as the military adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.

• To bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services.

• To ensure optimal utilisation of infrastructure and rationalise it through jointness among the Services.

• To implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and two-year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans, as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan.

• To assign inter-services prioritisation to capital acquisition proposals based on the anticipated budget.

• To bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services with the aim to augment combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.