The Centre has extended the tenure of General Anil Chauhan as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for eight m till May 30, 2026, or until further orders.

In an order issued on September 24, 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension of General Chauhan’s service. He will also continue to function as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs.

General Chauhan was appointed as CDS on September 28, 2022. Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1981, he has had a distinguished and illustrious career, holding key command and staff appointments.

For his exemplary services, General Chauhan has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

General Anil Chauhan successfully led the defence forces in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, which came in retaliation against the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which took the lives of 26 people.

Recently, Gen Anil Chauhan, revealed that India deliberately chose to carry out the May 7 Operation Sindoor at 1 am as the timing reflected both confidence in the forces’ ability to capture imagery in the dark and the intent to prevent civilian casualties.

Born in 1961, Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. As Major General, Anil Chauhan had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramula sector in the Northern Command. As Lieutenant General, he commanded a corps in the North East.

Anil Chauhan became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command in September 2019. He held the charge until his retirement from the service in May 2021.