The Indian Army, since its inception post-independence in 1947, has seen a distinguished line of leaders at its helm. These Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) have played pivotal roles in shaping the force into one of the largest and most formidable armies in the world. Here, we provide a comprehensive list of the Indian Army Chiefs from 1947 to 2024, highlighting their contributions and tenures.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army serves as the head of the military staff and the chairman of the Indian Army Board. This position is always held by a four-star general. As the senior-most officer in the Indian Army, the COAS acts as a military advisor to the Government of India and the Ministry of Defence.
The Indian Army has seen numerous leaders who have contributed to the nation’s defense and security. From its formation post-independence to the present day, the role of the Chief of Army Staff has evolved, reflecting the changing dynamics of military strategy and governance.
Here is the complete list of Chief of Army Staff from 1947 to 2024:
| Name | Tenure |
| General Sir Robert Lockhart | 15 Aug 1947 – 31 Dec 1947 |
| General Sir Roy Bucher | 01 Jan 1948 – 14 Jan 1949 |
| Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa | 15 Jan 1949 – 14 Jan 1953 |
| General K. S. Rajendra Singhji | 15 Jan 1953 – 14 May 1955 |
| General S. M. Srinagesh | 15 May 1955 – 07 May 1977 |
| General K. S. Thimayya | 08 May 1977 – 07 May 1961 |
| General P. N. Thapar | 08 May 1961 – 19 Nov 1962 |
| General J. N. Chaudhuri | 20 Nov 1962 – 07 Jan 1966 |
| General P. P. Kumaramangalam | 08 Jan 1966 – 07 Jan 1969 |
| General S. H. F. J. Manekshaw | 08 Jan 1969 – 14 Jan 1973 |
| General G. G. Bewoor | 15 Jan 1973 – 31 May 1975 |
| General T. N. Raina | 01 Jan 1975 – 31 May 1978 |
| General O. P. Malhotra | 01 Jan 1978 – 31 May 1981 |
| General K. V. Krishna Rao | 01 Jun 1981 – 31 Jul 1983 |
| General A. S. Vaidya | 01 Aug 1983 – 31 Jan 1986 |
| General K. Sundarji | 01 Feb 1986 – 30 Apr 1988 |
| General V. N. Sharma | 01 May 1988 – 30 Jun 1990 |
| General S. F. Rodrigues | 01 Jul 1990 – 30 Jun 1993 |
| General B. C. Joshi | 01 Jul 1993 – 18 Nov 1994 |
| General S. Roychowdhury | 22 Nov 1994 – 30 Sep 1997 |
| General V. P. Malik | 01 Oct 1997 – 30 Sep 2000 |
| General S. Padmanabhan | 01 Oct 2000 – 31 Dec 2002 |
| General N. C. Vij | 01 Jan 2003 – 31 Jan 2005 |
| General J. J. Singh | 01 Feb 2005 – 30 Sep 2007 |
| General Deepak Kapoor | 30 Sep 2007 – 30 Mar 2010 |
| General V. K. Singh | 31 Mar 2010 – 31 May 2012 |
| General Bikram Singh | 01 Ju 2012 – 31 Jul 2014 |
| General Dalbir Singh Suhag | 31 Jul 2014 – 31 Dec 2016 |
| General Bipin Rawat | 31 Dec 2016 – 31 Dec 2019 |
| General Manoj Mukund Naravane | 31 Dec 2019 – 30 Apr 2022 |
| General Manoj Pande | 30 Apr 2022 – 30 Jun 2024 |
| General Upendra Dwivedi | Effective from 30 June 2024 |
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