Categories: General Studies

List of Chief of Army Staff from 1947 to 2024

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.

Who is the Indian Army Chief

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.

List of Chief of Army Staff from 1947 to 2024

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

Akansha Arora

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