Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane to Take Over as Indian Army Chief

New Delhi, December 31, 2019:

Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane will be assuming office as the 28th Army Chief on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, retiring Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has been appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Monday. It said the appointment was with effect from Tuesday until further orders, said an official statement.

The Indian Army chief during his address said that the Indian Army is equipped to take on challenges from enemies. He will be planning on a new strategy for his fresh role.

Conveying gratitude to the soldiers, rank, and file of Indian Army who stood steadfast under challenging circumstances, Rawat said that the Indian Army is equipped to take on challenges from enemies.

On the other hand, Lt General Naravane is currently serving as the Vice-Chief of the Army staff.

Rawat mentioned that he wants to fulfill his role as Chief of Army Staff till he hands over responsibilities Lt General Naravane

As CDS, Rawat will assume a key role where he will be the single point of contact for the government. He will also be the first among equals with respect to the three service chiefs, all four-star officers themselves who will retain the operational command of their respective forces.

The government said that the CDS will head the newly established Department of Military Affairs within the Ministry of Defence. Among the areas, Rawat will focus on will be promoting jointness in procurement, training, staffing and the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources.

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