General MM Naravane retired after four decades of illustrious and meritorious service. General Manoj Pande took office as the 29th Army Chief of Staff on Saturday following the retirement of General MM Naravane.

General MM Naravane’s tenure in office will be remembered for ensuring the health of Indian Army personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic, a resolute response to the northern adversary in eastern Ladakh and a push determined towards Atmanirbharta, in addition to adopting niche and disruptive technologies to fight future wars.

He gave impetus to military diplomacy, was instrumental in fostering good relations with India’s partner countries and enhanced India’s overall national strength.

His tenure saw the completion of the restructuring of Army HQ in New Delhi, resulting in a much leaner and more integrated decision-making body. He knows the challenges of creating synergies between the three departments. He also pushed for the operationalization of IBGs.

General Naravane had been a soldier of soldiers and worried about the welfare of the troops. He visited the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Eastern Ladakh and the Northeast several times and actively pursued the files of rapid construction of housing and habitats for the newly inducted troops. in eastern Ladakh after April 2020.

An alumnus of the National Defense Academy and the Indian Military Academy, he was appointed to the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980. He is an alumnus of the Defense Service Staff College, Wellington and the higher command course, Mhow. The General Officer holds a Masters in Defense Studies, a Masters Degree in Defense and Management Studies and is currently pursuing his Ph.D.

He commanded the Republic Day Parade in 2017 in his capacity as General Officer Commanding Delhi Region. After successfully commanding the Army Training Command in Shimla and the Eastern Command in Kolkata, he served as Vice Chief of Army Staff before assuming the appointment of Chief of the army staff on December 31, 2019.

In a distinguished military career spanning more than four decades, he had the distinction of serving in key command and staff positions in peace and in the field, both in the North -East and Jammu and Kashmir.

He was also part of the Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka. He commanded a Rashtriya Rifles battalion, raised an infantry brigade, served as Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) and commanded a Strike Corps in the Western Theater. His staff assignments included tenures as a brigade major of an infantry brigade, defense attaché in Yangon, Myanmar, an instruction post at the Army War College as a staff leadership in the Higher Command Wing, in addition to two terms at the Integrated Headquarters MoD (Army), New Delhi.