Lt Gen Anil Chauhan becomes 2nd Chief of Defence Staff
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New Delhi: Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan assumed the office of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India on Friday, becoming the second officer to take the post. The post was vacant for more than nine months after the death of the first CDS General Bipin Rawat in December 2021, IANS reported.
In his address, he expressed his gratitude to the forces for meeting the expectations and tackling all the challenges or difficulties together.
"I am proud to be assuming the responsibility of the highest rank in the Indian Armed Forces. I will try to fulfil the expectations from the three defence forces as the Chief of Defence Staff. We will tackle all challenges and difficulties together," he said.
He laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and later inspected a tri-service Guard of Honour on the South Block lawns before formally assuming the charge. Later, he met the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Army chief General Manoj Pande, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Navy vice chief Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade and Air Marshal B.R. Krishna were also present at the ceremony.
It was on Wednesday the Union government announced Chauhan's appointment as the new Chief of Defence Staff.