General Anil Chauhan completed his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs

¨     General Anil Chauhan completed his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs on 30 May 2026.

¨     On the same day, he was given a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block lawns in New Delhi.

¨     The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the senior-most military appointment in India and serves as the principal military adviser to the Government of India.

¨     The CDS post was created based on the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and the Group of Ministers process, and it was formally established in 2019.

¨     The CDS is responsible for promoting jointness among the Indian Armed Forces and advising on defence matters.

¨     General Anil Chauhan was appointed as CDS on 28 September 2022.

¨     His tenure was extended until 30 May 2026 by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 24 September 2025.

¨     The CDS is a four-star rank officer from the Indian Armed Forces.