List of Indian Chief of Army Staff (1947-2022)

Here you get the list of Indian Chief of Army Staff from 1947 to 2022 with their service period. For further information regarding List of Indian Chief of Army Staff read the full article.

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Indian Chief of Army Staff

The Chief of Army Staff is the highest-ranking officer and Principal Advisor or military consultant to the Indian Government and Minister Of Defence.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is also the staff commander of the military and the president of the Indian Army Board.
He reports directly to the Supreme Commander of Defence Forces i.e- the honourable President Of India.

Earlier, this post was known as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army and the Indian Army also had two British Commanders-in-Chief, after India got independence on the 15th of August, 1947, and after that, India appointed its first Indian Commander-in-Chief. The designation of Chief of the Army Staff was established in 1955 and is being continued to date.

Gen Manoj Pande took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff in April 2022 after Gen MM Naravane retired from service. Earlier, he was serving as the vice chief and he became the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to helm the force.

List of Indian Chief of Army Staff (1947-2022)

Sr. No.	Names	Duration of Service
1	General Sir Robert Lockhart	15 August 1947 – 31 December 1947
2	General Sir Roy Bucher	01 January 1948 – 14 January 1949
3	KM Cariappa, Field Marshal	15 January 1949 – 14 January 1953
4	General KS Rajendra Sinhji	January 15, 1953 – May 14, 1955
5	General S.M. Srinagesh	May 15, 1955 – May 7, 1957
6	K.S. Thimayya, General	May 8, 1957, to May 7, 1961
7	General P.N. Thapar	May 8, 1961 – November 19, 1962
8	General J.N. Choudhuri	November 20, 1962 – June 7, 1966
9	P.P. Kumaramangalam, General	June 8, 1966, to June 7, 1969
10	General S.H.F.J. Manekshaw	8 June 1969 – 14 January 1973
11	General G.G Bewoor	15 January 1973 to 31 May 1975.
12	T.N. Raina, General	From 1 June 1975 to 31 May 1978
13	Malhotra, General O.P.	From 1 June 1978 to 31 May 1981
14	K.V. Krishna Rao, General	From 1 June 1981 to 31 July 1983
15	A.S. Vaidya, General	From August 1, 1983, to January 31, 1986
16	Sunderji, General	From February 1, 1986, to April 30, 1988
17	V.N. Sharma, General	From 1 May 1988 to 30 June 1990
18	S.F. Rodrigues, General	From July 1, 1990, to June 30, 1993
19	B.C. Joshi, General	1st of July 1993 – 18th of November 1994
20	S. Roychowdhury, General	From November 22, 1994, to September 30, 1997
21	V.P.Malik, General	From October 1, 1997, to September 30, 2000
22	Padmanabhan, General	From October 1, 2000, to December 31, 2002
23	N.C.Vij, General	January 1, 2003 – January 31, 2005
24	J.J. Singh, General	From February 1, 2005, to September 30, 2007,
25	Deepak Kapoor, General	30 March 2010 – 30 September 2007
26	V.K. Singh, General	March 31, 2010 – May 31, 2012
27	Bikram Singh, General	From 1 June 2012 to 31 July 2014
28	Dalbir Singh Suhag, General	July 31, 2014 – December 31, 2016
29.	Bipin Rawat, General	December 31, 2016 – December 31, 2019
30	Manoj Mukund Naravane, General	incumbent until December 31, 2019

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List of Indian Chief of Army Staff: FAQs

Que. Who is the incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS)?
Ans. Gen Manoj Pande took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff in 2022.

Que. When was the position of Chief of the Army Staff created?
Ans. The designation of Chief of the Army Staff was established in 1955.

Que. Who was the first Indian Chief of the Army Staff?
Ans. KM Cariappa, Field Marshal. His tenure was from 15 January 1949 to 14 January 1953.

Que. Who was the first Chief of Army Staff?
Ans. General Sir Robert Lockhart was the first Chief of Army Staff. Earlier the name of the post was Commander-in-Chief until it changed to Chief of Army Staff in 1955.

FAQs

Que. Who is the incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS)?

Ans. Gen Manoj Pande took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff in 2022.

Que. When was the position of Chief of the Army Staff created?

Ans. The designation of Chief of the Army Staff was established in 1955.

Que. Who was the first Indian Chief of the Army Staff?

Ans. KM Cariappa, Field Marshal. His tenure was from 15 January 1949 to 14 January 1953.

Que. Who was the first Chief of Army Staff?

Ans. General Sir Robert Lockhart was the first Chief of Army Staff. Earlier the name of the post was Commander-in-Chief until it changed to Chief of Army Staff in 1955.