V.K. Singh named next Army chief

Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Singh, the present Eastern Army Commander, will assume office on March 31 as the next Indian Army chief in the rank of General, it was officially announced on Friday. Singh will take over from incumbent General Deepak Kapoor, who retires on that day.

“Singh has been appointed the next Chief of Army Staff in the rank of General with effect from the afternoon of March 31. The present army chief retires from service on March 31,” an official said. The decision was earlier taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Singh was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 14, 1970. During his career spanning nearly 40 years, he has serviced in a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. He participated in the 1971 operations and Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka. Prior to his present appointment, he commanded a Corps in the Western sector.

Singh, who has experience in counter insurgency, LoC and high altitude operations, was awarded the Yudh Sena Medal for his distinguished service during ‘Operation Pawan’ against LTTE in Sri Lanka. Also, while commanding a counter insurgency force, he was award awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service. Singh, seen in action in Bangladesh war, served in the Military Operations Directorate at the Army Headquarters and Brigadier General Staff of a Corps during ‘Operation Parakram’. He has also served as an instructor at the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) headquarters in Bhutan.

Besides being an honours graduate of the US Army Infantry School in Georgia, Singh is an aluminus of the Defence Services Staff College, the Army War College and the US Army War College, Carlisle.

- Asian Tribune -