Gen Anil Chauhan is the new Chief of Defence Staff

NeW DelhI. The Government has appointed former Army Commander Lt Gen Anil Chauhan as the country’s second CDS, succeeding Gen Bipin Rawat who had perished in an unfortunate helicopter crash nine months back.

- Gulshan luthra

He has also been promoted to the rank of General, and like his predecessor, he will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, equivalent to the Civil Service officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Notably though, the responsibility for the defence of the country procedurally vests with the Defence Secretary, as the civil services constitutionally have precedence over the military services.

As CDS, Gen Chauhan will be the first among the equals, the four-star Chiefs of among the equals, the four-star Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and preside over their meetings.