Age, Biography, and Wiki
Anil Chauhan was born on May 18, 1961, in a Hindu Garhwali Rajput family from the Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. He has risen through the ranks of the Indian Army, becoming a four-star general and assuming the role of the Chief of Defence Staff on September 30, 2022. His early education took place at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Fort William, Kolkata, and he later attended the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.
| Occupation | Activist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 18 May 1961 |
| Age | 64 Years |
| Birth Place | Gwana, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttar Pradesh (presentday Uttarakhand), India |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | India |
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about his height and weight are not publicly available, General Chauhan is known for his strong leadership stance and strategic vision.
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Dating & Relationship Status
General Chauhan is a married man, though specific details about his family life are not extensively documented in public sources. His personal life is kept private, reflecting the professional focus typical of military leaders.
General Chauhan is married to Anupama, an artist. The couple have a daughter, Pragya. An art enthusiast, he is a keen admirer of Tibetan art, a fact which he attributed to his wife. As a general officer and later as CDS, Gen Chauhan's life bore several similarities to Gen Rawat's; both men were commissioned in the same regiment, the 11th Gorkha Rifles and also hailed from the same ancestral region, the Pauri Garhwal district. As fellow officers, Gen Rawat was said to have held Gen Chauhan with high esteem; in 2022, when a military garrison along the Line of Actual Control was renamed after him, Gen Chauhan was amongst the dignitaries present at the renaming ceremony. Chauhan is also said to be close with Ajit Doval, with whom he had closely worked with during his retirement.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Anupama Chauhan |
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Net Worth and Salary
The net worth of military leaders like General Anil Chauhan is not typically disclosed publicly. However, given his high-ranking position, his salary would be substantial, likely in the range of top military officers in India. The exact figures remain confidential.
Career, Business, and Investments
General Chauhan's career highlights include his appointment as the 2nd Chief of Defence Staff, a position he assumed after being recalled from retirement. He has been instrumental in shaping India's military strategy, particularly during Operation Sindoor, where he emphasized the importance of multi-domain operations and combating disinformation.
As a Major general, he commanded the Baramulla-based 19th Infantry Division of the Northern Command. In 2017, on promotion to the rank of Lieutenant general, he was appointed General officer commanding (GOC) of the Dimapur-based III Corps. In January 2018, he was appointed Director General Military Operations (DGMO), during the course of which he oversaw the execution of two key military operations: the 2019 Balakot airstrike against Pakistan and Operation Sunrise - a joint India-Myanmar counterinsurgency offensive.
In June 2022, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a gazette notification, which stated that any three-star officer under the age of 62 - lieutenant general, vice admiral or air marshal, whether serving or retired, would be considered qualified candidates eligible to appointed as CDS. The notification subsequently made Gen Chauhan, who had already retired as a lieutenant general at the age of 60, one of the key frontrunners in the pool of qualified candidates. Around the time of the notification's release, Gen Chauhan was one of 14 candidates from the army, comprising both serving and retired commanders, who were eligible for the position.
On 28 September 2022, the MoD released an official statement announcing that Gen Chauhan had been selected as the new CDS, which subsequently concluded the position's nine-month vacancy.
Over the span of his military career across four decades, Gen Chauhan received numerous military decorations. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, the Sena Medal in 2014, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2018, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.
Social Network
General Chauhan does not have a prominent social media presence. His public communications are largely through official channels and media briefings, reflecting the professional and formal nature of his role.
On 28 September 2022, Gen Chauhan was recalled from retirement and was appointed as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by the Narendra Modi-led government, following a June 2022 notification which permitted military retirees under the age of 62 to be qualified for the post. Assuming charge two days later, he became the first three-star retiree to be appointed to the post, traditionally held by a four-star officer. He succeeded General Bipin Rawat, the inaugural holder of the post, who had died in a helicopter crash in December 2021.
On 8 December 2021, Gen. Bipin Rawat, the inaugural Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), died when his Mil Mi-17 helicopter carrying him and 13 others, crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Gen Rawat, who had only been in the post for twenty-three months, had no immediate successor to him, as the position of CDS had no defined order of succession, which led to it becoming vacant. Amidst growing uncertainty over the impending choice of appointing a successor, the Union Government appointed Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, the then-Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), as an acting functionary to the position of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (Chairman COSC), as an interim successor in an effort to temporarily oversee Gen Rawat's responsibilities, while simultaneously looking for a successor. Gen Naravane, then the senior most chief amongst the three branches of the armed forces, was himself reported to be a plausible successor; however, his retirement in April 2022 put an end to those speculations.
Education
General Chauhan is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and has completed the Higher Command and National Defence College courses. His educational background underscores his comprehensive preparation for leadership roles in the military.
After completing his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya at Fort William, Kolkata, he joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (NDA) as part of the 58 Course in year. He subsequently joined to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun (IMA) as part of the 68 Course in 1980. He is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command and National Defence College courses.
