Anil Chauhan (Indian Army Personnel) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Army Personnel
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	18/05/1961
Age	65 years
Birthplace	Gwana Village, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Latest News about Anil Chauhan

24/09/2025

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved an extension of service for General Anil Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. His tenure was extended up to 30 May 2026, or until further orders. This kept him in the top military post beyond the original term period.

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Bio/Wiki

Famous for	Being the second Chief of Defence Staff of India

Physical Stats & More

Height	5' 6"
Weight	65 kg
Eye Color	Dark Brown
Hair Color	Salt and Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

School	Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), Fort Williams, Kolkata
College/University	National Defence Academy (NDA) Indian Military Academy (IMA)
Educational Qualification	Graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA)

Personal Life

Salary	Rs. 2,50,000 + other allowances (as of September 2022)

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married

Family

Father	Surendra Singh Chauhan (retired Indian Army personnel)
Mother	Name
Siblings	He has siblings.
Spouse	Anupama Chauhan (artist)
Children	Pragya Chauhan

Career

Service/Branch	Indian Army
Rank	Four-Star General
Service Years	13 June 1981 - 31 May 2021 (as an officer of the Indian Army) 30 September 2022 - present (as CDS) October 2021 - 30 September 2022 (Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat)
Unit	11 Gorkha Rifles
Service Number	IC-39492A
Commands	11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Center (Lucknow) 19th Infantry Division III Corps (Eastern Command) GOC-in-C Eastern Command 19th Infantry Division (Baramulla, Northern Command)
Career Ranks	Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier Major General Lieutenant General General
Designations	Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) 2nd Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat Secretary to Government of India, Department of Military Affairs
Military Decorations	Sena Medal (SM) Videsh Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal Sainya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Samanya Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)
Key Operations & Assignments	Oversaw execution of 2019 Balakot airstrike against Pakistan as DGMO Coordinated Operation Sunrise (2019) - joint India-Myanmar counterinsurgency offensive Military Observer on UN Mission to Angola Director, Perspective & Planning at Army HQ Chief of Staff at HQ 15 Corps Director General of Discipline, Ceremonial & Welfare Led 11 rounds of Indo-Myanmar Regional Border Committee talks (2017)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Anil Chauhan served as a lieutenant general in the Indian Army before retiring.
2. After the passing of General Bipin Rawat, Anil Chauhan was appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff.
3. In 2010, Anil Chauhan authored a book called Aftermath of a Nuclear Attack: A Case Study on Post-strike Operations.
4. He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1981, the same regiment as the first CDS, Gen Bipin Rawat.
5. He was the first serving officer to manage the Department of Indian Army Veterans as a brigadier.
6. He is the first retired three-star officer to return to service in four-star rank.
7. He has extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East India.
8. As Eastern Command chief, he bolstered Indian Army's combat readiness along the China frontier in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.

Anil Chauhan Army Personnel Indian Gwana Village, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand