The Challenges Ahead For General Chauhan

A former colleague of India’s new CDS details the task of getting the armed services future ready

- Satish Dua

Lt-Gen Anil Chauhan has been appointed as the second Chief of Defence Staff of India. A thoroughly competent professional and a good human being, he is a perfect choice for the job.

The first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat sadly passed away in saddle before he could finish the allotted pioneer’s task, that of integration of the three services and getting them future ready. So Gen Chauhan has to carry forward the endeavour, in a possibly changing world order, without letting the armed forces become unbalanced at any stage. This essay is an attempt to analyse only the major challenges the new CDS faces.

The major challenges

Integration is much more than only theatrisation or creation of theatre commands. In addition to the integration between the structures and processes of the armed forces at a macro level, it also involves synergy with other instruments of power and civil military fusion, especially in the ministry of defence (MoD).

Some of the challenges that the new CDS will have to contend with are:

● Preparing the military for next generation warfare 

● Raising the technology threshold

● Dealing with nuances of multi-domain warfare

In the operational realm, the biggest challenge will be aligning our operational preparedness to meet a two-front threat, with increasing belligerence on the part of China.