Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Saturday said he had a “very satisfying and excellent tenure” as he bid farewell to military service after receiving a ceremonial Guard of Honour and laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in the national capital.
Reflecting on the conclusion of his service, General Chauhan said it was a great honour to receive the Tri-Services Guard of Honour and thanked the three services and Headquarters IDS.
“It’s a matter of great honour for me to superannuate with a tri-services guard of honour. I thank the three services and Headquarters IDS for it. With the conclusion of the guard of honour, I bid farewell to my colleagues in uniform, comrades in arms forever. I just laid the wreath at the War Memorial for the last time in uniform, as a humble tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty,” he told reporters.
“After the wreath laying, I was welcomed by the friends, relatives and well-wishers. This is symbolic of my transition from uniform to civilian life. I had a very satisfying and excellent tenure,” Chauhan added.
The ceremonial farewell marked the culmination of General Chauhan’s tenure as the country’s top military officer. His extended tenure as CDS and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in September 2025, extending his service up to May 30, 2026.
Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1981, General Chauhan served for over four decades and held several key command and staff appointments during his distinguished military career. He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
During his tenure as CDS, General Chauhan played a central role in pushing jointness and integration across the three services. On Friday, he released the Joint Air Defence Doctrine, described by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff as a significant step towards greater integration, synergy and operational preparedness among the armed forces.
Earlier this week, he also chaired the concluding meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and launched the Tri-Services Tele Directory Web Application developed by the Directorate General of Signals to enhance coordination across the defence establishment.
General Chauhan had also addressed personnel at Headquarters IDS and the Department of Military Affairs, emphasising “JAI” — Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation — as the guiding principle for transforming the Indian armed forces.
With the Guard of Honour at South Block and wreath-laying at the National War Memorial, General Chauhan formally concluded a tenure marked by a strong emphasis on tri-services integration, operational synergy and defence modernisation. (Agencies)
