Ex-CDS General Anil Chauhan takes charge of Vivekananda International Foundation

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has taken charge as director of the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), marking his return to the national security and strategic policy space just months after retiring from India's top military post.Chauhan assumed charge of the New Delhi-based public policy think tank on October 5. VIF welcomed the former CDS, saying his appointment marks a new chapter for the organisation, while also acknowledging the tenure of former Deputy National Security Adviser Dr Arvind Gupta, who previously headed the foundation.FROM INDIA'S TOP MILITARY POST TO POLICY THINK TANKChauhan, India's second CDS, retired on May 30 after serving for more than three years as CDS, Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.He was appointed CDS on September 30, 2022, after serving as Eastern Army Commander and Director General of Military Operations. During his tenure, he played a key role in driving military reforms, jointness and the proposed theatre command structure. A decorated officer, Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1981. He went on to command an infantry division in Baramulla, a corps in the Northeast and later the Eastern Command. He has been awarded the PVSM, AVSM, VM and VSM.WHY VIF ROLE MATTERSThe new assignment puts Chauhan at the helm of an organisation that works at the intersection of national security, foreign policy and geopolitics. Founded in 2009 by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, VIF engages with the diplomatic community and prepares policy briefs and research on strategic affairs, national security, geopolitics and civilisational issues. Its executive committee is chaired by S Gurumurthy.VIF said Chauhan's experience in national security, defence policy, geopolitics and military transformation would strengthen its research and strategic dialogue.The appointment has also drawn attention because Doval himself had headed VIF before becoming National Security Adviser in 2014, adding to interest around Chauhan's next role in India's strategic policy ecosystem.- Ends