Gen Anil Chauhan on Friday took charge as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Friday with the aim to focus back on the implementation of the ambitious theaterisation drive.
61-year-old Gen Anil Chauhan will also function as Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs.
Gen Chauhan is from the 11 Gorkha Rifles, the same regiment as Gen Rawat. "He will assume charge as the new Chief of Defence Staff on Friday," said an official.
Gen Chauhan was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Army during the Balakot air strikes in 2019 when Indian airplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed.
After his retirement as the Eastern Army Commander last year, he has been serving as the military adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat.
In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Gen Anil Chauhan held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter.