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Indian Army is the land-based section of the Indian Armed Forces and forms its largest constituent. The President of India acts as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army. The Indian army has its origin in the East India Company, which later on became the British Indian Army and the armies of the princely states which went on to become the national army after India’s independence. The regiments of the Indian army have been a part of various battles and wars around the world and have shown exemplary courage in winning them all. The professional head of such a brave contingent of soldiers is ranked Chief of Army Staff, a four-star general.
Who is a Chief of Army Staff?
A Chief of Army Staff is the head of the Indian Army and holds the highest-ranking officer in the Army. The chief of Army Staff is the principal advisor to the Defence Ministry in matters related to the army. He is also the key military advisor to the President of our country.
At the time of the Independence of India, the head of the Indian army was ranked as the “Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army”. On March 1st, 1948, the rank was changed to “Chief of the Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army. Commanders-in-chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955 again changed back the name to Chief of Army Staff.
List of Indian Chief of Army Staff (1947 – 2021)
S.No. | Name | Tenure |
1. | General Sir Robert Lockhart | 15 August 1947 – 31 December 1947 |
2.
| General Sir Roy Bucher | 01 January 1948 – 14 January 1949 |
3. | Field Marshal K M Cariappa | 15 January 1949 – 14 January 1953 |
4. | General K S Rajendra Sinhji | 15 January 1953 – 14 May 1955 |
5. | General S.M. Srinagesh | 15 May 1955 – 7 May 1957 |
6. | General K.S. Thimayya | 8 May 1957 – 7 May 1961 |
7. | General P.N. Thapar | 8 May 1961 – 19 November 1962 |
8. | General P.N. J.N. Choudhari | 20 November 1962 – 7 June 1966 |
| 9. | General P.P. Kumaramangalam | 8 June 1966 – 7 June 1969 |
10. | General S.H.F.J. Manekshaw | 8 June 1969 – 14 January 1973 |
11. | General G.G. Bewoor | 15 January 1973 – 31 May 1975 |
12. | General T.N. Raina | 1 June 1975 – 31 May 1978 |
13. | General O.P. Malhotra | 1 June 1978 – 31 May 1981 |
14. | General K.V. Krishna Rao | 1 June 1981 – 31 July 1983 |
15. | General A.S. Vaidya | 1 August 1983 – 31 January 1986 |
16. | General K. Sunderjji | 1 February 1986 – 30 April 1988 |
17. | General V.N. Sharma | 1 May 1988 – 30 June 1990 |
18. | General S.F. Rodrigues | 1 July 1990 – 30 June 1993 |
19. | General B.C. Joshi | 1 July 1993 – 18 November 1994 |
20. | General S. Roychowdhury | 22 November 1994 – 30 September 1997 |
21. | General V.P. Malik | 1 October 1997 – 30 September 2000 |
22. | General S. Padmanabh | 1 October 2000 – 31 December 2002 |
23. | General N.C. Vij | 1 January 2003 – 31 January 2005 |
24. | General J.J. Singh | 01 February 2005 – 30 September 2007 |
25. | General Deepak Kapoor | 30 September 2007 – 30 March 2010 |
26. | General V.K. Singh | 31 March 2010 – 31 May 2012 |
27. | General Bikram Singh | 01 June 2012 – 31 July 2014 |
28. | General Dalbir Singh Suhag | 31 July 2014 – 31 December 2016 |
29. | General Bipin Rawat | 31 December 2016 -31 December 2019 |
30. | General Manoj Mukund Narwane | 31 December 2019 – 30 April 2022 |
31. | General Manoj Pande | 1 May 2022 – incumbent |
Current Chief of Army Staff?
The present Chief of Army Staff is General Manoj Pande who had been serving as the Army’s vice-chief. He is the first officer commissioned into the Corps of Engineers to become the Chief of Army Staff.
Conclusion:
The Chief of Army Staff is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The Chief of Army Staff retires from office after three years of appointment or at the age of 62 years, whichever is early. The office of the Chief of Army Staff is at the South Block of the Central Secretariat situated in Raisina Hills, New Delhi.
The Chief of Army Staff is the keystone in the Indian Army. He leads the Indian army in all its endeavors, guiding and managing the overall contingent. Hence, his office forms an integral part of the Indian army, the military land base of the Indian armed forces.
