Change of guard: Lt General Manoj Mukund Naravane assumed the charge of Vice Chief of the Army Staff on Sunday. He succeeds Lt Gen Devraj Anbu who retired on Saturday. Before being elevated to the second highest position in Indian Army, he was heading the Eastern Command of Indian Army.
Lt Gen Naravane is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in Jun 1980.
He brings with him an enormous amount of experience in serving in the most challenging areas.
“In a distinguished military career spanning almost four decades, he has the distinction of tenating key appointments in active Counter Insurgency environments, both in the North East and in Jammu and Kashmir & was a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during Operation PAWAN,” said the ministry of defence in a statement.
He also has had the opportunity of serving as a Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy in Myanmar for three years.
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The general has been awarded the ‘Sena Medal’ (distinguished) for command of his Battalion in J&K, the ‘Vishisht Seva Medal’ for his services as the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in Nagaland.
He was also awarded with ‘Ati Vishisht Seva Medal’ for command of a prestigious Strike Corps and was honoured with ‘Param Vishisht Seva Medal’ for his distinguished services as the GOC-in-C of the Army Training Command.
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