In Broadsword’s opinion, the general who is set to be the next CDS: Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan (retired).
Service Status: Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan served as Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). He retired as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command. In military parlance, he was the commander of the eastern army. The Eastern Army, which has a large area of responsibility, is ranked alongside the Northern Army as one of the two most sensitive commands in the army.
Age requirements: He retired on May 31, 2021, at the age of 60. This means that he would fulfill the 62-year condition until May 31, 2023. He will remain in contention for almost a year.
Seniority: Lieutenant-General Anil Chauhan is the superior of the three heads of service. So there would be no embarrassing seniority friction if he was appointed CDS, or head of three services.
Current Occupation: Chauhan works in the office of the National Security Council. Influential national security adviser Ajit Doval came to know him well, and Chauhan had time to form a relationship.
Like General Bipin Rawat, Chauhan comes from the 11th Gurkha Rifles. Both are from Uttarakhand.
