The Chief of Defence Staff is the professional head of the Indian Armed Forces. The CDS is the highest-ranking military officer in service, responsible for overseeing inter-service jointness across al
Gen NS Raja Subramani
The South Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi - where the CDS is seated.
General Bipin Rawat the first CDS, second-from-right, along with the three service chiefs in January 2020; his later acting successor, General M. M. Naravane, is seen far-left.
Indian CDS Peak Cap
Bipin Rawat
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General Bipin Rawat was an Indian Army general who served as the first Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his death in a helicopter crash in December 2021. Prior
Chief of Defence Staff (India)
…the formative period of the office's existence, the senior-most service chief was recommended for appointment; the first instance of this was General Bipin Rawat, the then Chief of the Army Staff and senior-most amongst the three service chiefs. However, Rawat's unexpected death in 2021 whilst in tenure exposed…
Official portrait, 2020
Rawat as the VCOAS.
General Dalbir Singh Suhag handing over the baton to Rawat at Army HQ