New Delhi: It's official now. Currently the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen MM Naravane will be the new Chief of Army staff (CoAS). Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, will take over the charge from General Bipin Rawat who superannuates on December 31, 2019. Lt Gen Naravane will take over as CoAS in the substantive rank of General.
Started from Sikh Light Infantry Regiment
Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane did his schooling at Dnyan Prabodhini Prashala, Pune. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the 7th Battalion, The Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980. Naravane is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Higher Command Course, Mhow. The new Army chief holds a Master's Degree in Defence Studies, M. Phil Degree in Defence and Management Studies and is currently pursuing his Doctorate.
Distinguished military career
During his military career spanning almost four decades Naravane has the distinction of tenating key command and staff appointments in Peace and Field both in North East and Jammu & Kashmir and has been part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during 'Operation Pawan'. Lt Gen MM Naravane brings with him enormous experience of serving in the most challenging areas. The General Officer has commanded 2nd Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles (Sikh Light Infantry), 106 Infantry Brigade, Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) at Kohima, Nagaland and 2 Corps. His staff assignments include tenures as a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade, Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster General (AA&QMG) of Headquarters Establishment No 22, Defence Attache at Yangon, Myanmar, an instructional appointment in the Army War College as Directing Staff in the Higher Command Wing, besides two tenures at the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army), New Delhi.
Lt Gen MM Naravane had the privilege of commanding the Republic Day Parade in 2017 in his capacity as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Delhi Area. After successfully commanding the Army Training Command, Shimla, he took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command on October 01, 2018.