Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S Chauhan
PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM

Biography 

Lt. Gen Shokin Chauhan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, PhD, is a decorated military leader, scholar, and strategic thinker with over four decades of distinguished service. An alumnus of prestigious institutions like the National Defence Academy and the National Defence College, he was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in December 1979.

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As Director General of Assam Rifles, India’s oldest paramilitary force, he contributed to strengthening security and governance in the North East. Following his retirement in 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group, where he successfully reinvigorated peace processes and brought the NSCN(K) back to negotiations.

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The General has commanded significant formations, including the Indian Army’s oldest Strike Corps, the 8 Mountain Division in Ladakh, and 70 Mountain Brigade in South Kashmir. His operational experience spans counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and peacekeeping, with notable contributions to the defense of the Saltoro Ridge during the Siachen conflict.

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A scholar-general, he holds a PhD for his thesis on India-Nepal relations and is the author of the acclaimed book Bridging Borders. He has served as India’s Defence Attaché to Nepal and represented the nation at international military forums in countries like the U.S., Israel, and China. As a strategist, he has contributed to policy formulation, perspective planning, and capability building at apex levels in the Ministry of Defence.

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Recipient of five Presidential awards, Lt Gen Chauhan continues to influence defense strategy and counter-terrorism as a Visiting Fellow at leading think tanks. His ongoing work focuses on preparing the Indian Army for multidomain warfare by 2030. Residing in Pune, he remains a thought leader in India’s strategic neighborhood and global military diplomacy.