The Central Government, who is trying to create a shared and integrated theater command in the country, has extended the term of CDS General Anil Chauhan till May 2026. In this regard, the Ministry of Defense has issued an official statement and informed about the expansion of service.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the Cabinet appointment Committee (ACC) has approved the service expansion of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday (September 24). According to the Ministry of Defense, CDS General Chauhan, by 30 May 2026, will also serve the post of Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). It was also said that till 30 May 2026 or till no new order comes, they will remain in both their positions. CDS under the Ministry of Defense also serves as Secretary of DMA.

General Chauhan was appointed to the post of CDS on 28 September 2022. Everyone was shocked about his appointment. Because, he retired from the Army a few months ago from Lieutenant General Rank and was posted as Military-Advisor in National Security Council Secretariat under NSA Ajit Doval.

Government has approved the extension of services of general anil chauhan as Chief of defense staff (#CDS) & Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, UPTO 30th May 2026, Or Until Further Orders, Whichever is Earlier.

Commissioned in 1981, Gen Chauhan has had a distinguished…

– Ministry of Defense, Government of India (@SPOKESPERSONMOD) September 24, 2025

By posing a Lieutenant General Rank officer as Chief of Defense Staff, the government not only provided the rank of General after retirement but also appointed the country’s largest military commander. General Chauhan, who joined the Indian Army (Army) in the year 1981, has served on staff and command posts in different parts of the country.

Before him (now late) General Bipin Rawat was appointed by the government on 30 December 2019. But in the year 2021, General Rawat lost his life in a helicopter accident with 13 military officers, including his wife. General Rawat was the first defense head (CDS) of the country.

The government had created the post of CDS so that, separate commands of all three wings of the army i.e. Army, Air Force and Navy can be integrated and made the theater command. The jointness and integration of the government’s armed forces was a deep setback due to the untouchable death of General Rawat. But General Chauhan came and worked to advance this vision.

The Army and the Navy are ready to integrate the armed forces but have been objected by the Air Force. In such a situation, preparing the Air Force for the theater command before the government can prove to be a crooked kheer. This is the reason that the government has extended the tenure of General Chauhan till May 2026 so that sharing and integration can be strengthened before making the theater command.

At the recent Combined Commanders Conference held in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing all the top commanders of the armed forces, described self -reliance, jointness and innovation as the mantra of victory.