List of Chief of Army Staff India & their Roles & Responsibilities

The regiments of the Indian army have participated in several conflicts and wars throughout the world, winning them all with remarkable bravery. The professional commander of such a valiant force is the Chief of Army Staff, a four-star general.

Know more about this glorious position in the Indian Army, its roles and responsibilities and names of prominent Indian CoAs.

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Who is a Chief of Army Staff?

The Chief of Army Staff is the Indian Army's highest-ranking officer and operational commander. The Commanders-in-Chief Act of 1955 established this post, which replaced the Commander-in-Chief office.

The Indian Chief of Army Staff is always a full General who advises the Government of India and the Ministry of Defence on military matters. The Indian Army has 28 Chiefs of Army Staff and four Commanders-in-Chief.

List of Chief of Army Staff Personnel

Illustrated below in the table are the names, tenures and units of India’s distinguished Chief of Army Staff personnel.

Indian Chief Of Army Staff
S.No.	Name	Tenure	Unit of Commission
1	General Sir Robert Lockhart	15 Aug 1947 to 31st Dec 1947	51 Sikhs Frontier Force
2	General Francis Robert Roy Bucher	21 June 1948 – 15 January 1949	Scottish Rifles
3	Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa	16 January 1949 – 14 January 1953	Rajput Rifles
4	General Maharaj Rajendrasinhji Jadeja	15 January 1953 – 1 April 1955	2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse)
5	General Maharaj Rajendrasinhji Jadeja	1 April 1955 – 14 May 1955	2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse)
6	General Satyawant Mallana Sringesh	15 May 1955 – 7 May 1957	19th Hyderabad Regiment
7	General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya	8 May 1957 – 7 May 1961	19th Hyderabad Regiment
8	General Pran Nath Thapar	8 May 1961 – 19 November 1962	1st Punjab Regiment
9	General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri	20 November 1962 – 7 June 1966	7th Light Cavalry
10	General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam	8 June 1966 – 7 June 1969	Regiment of Artillery
11	Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw	8 June 1969 – 15 January 1973	12th Frontier Force Regiment
12	General Gopal Gurunath Bewoor	16 January 1973 – 31 May 1975	Dogra Regiment
13	General Tapishwar Narain Raina	1 June 1975 – 31 May 1978	Kumaon Regiment
14	General Om Prakash Malhotra	1 June 1978 – 31 May 1981	Regiment of Artillery
15	General Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao	1 June 1981 – 31 July 1983	Mahar Regiment
16	General Arun Kumar Shridhar Vaidya	1 August 1983 – 31 January 1986	9th Deccan Horse
17	General Krishnaswamy Sundarji	1 February 1986 – 31 May 1988	Mahar Regiment
18	General Ashwa Nath Sharma	1 June 1988 – 30 June 1990	16th Light Cavalry
19	General Sunith Francis Rodrigues	1 July 1990 – 30 June 1993	Regiment of Artillery
20	General Bipin Chandra Joshi	1 July 1993 – 19 November 1994	64th Cavalry
21	General Shankar Roy Chowdhary	20 November 1994 – 30 September 1997	20th Lancers
22	General Ved Prakash Malik	1 October 1997 – 30 September 2000	Sikh Light Infantry
23	General Sundarajan Padmanabhan	1 October 2000 – 31 December 2002	Regiment of Artillery
24	General Nirmal Chander Vij	1 January 2003 – 31 January 2005	Dogra Regiment
25	General Joginder Jaswant Singh	1 February 2005 – 30 September 2007	Maratha Light Infantry
26	General Deepak Kapoor	1 October 2007 – 31 March 2010	Regiment of Artillery
27	General Vijay Kumar Singh	1 April 2010 – 31 May 2012	Rajput Regiment
28	General Bikram Singh	1 June 2012 – 31 July 2014	Sikh Light Infantry
29	General Dalbir Singh Suhag	1 August 2014 – 31 December 2016	5 Gorkha Rifles
30	General Bipin Rawat	31 December 2016 – 31 December 2019	11 Gorkha Rifles
31	General Manoj Mukund Naravane	31 December 2019 – 30 April 2022	7 Sikh Light Infantry
32	General Manoj Pande	30 April 2022 – Present	Corps of Engineers

Who is the Current Indian Chief of Army Staff?

As of 2023, General Manoj Pande, the Army's vice-chief, is the current Indian Chief of Army Staff. He is the first officer commissioned within the Corps of Engineers to become Chief of Army Staff.

What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of the Chief of Army Staff?

Know what the different duties exercised by the Indian Chief of Army Staff:

In charge of the Indian Army's command, control, and administration.
Provides military advice and recommendations to the President, Ministry of Defence, and government on national security, defence strategy, and force readiness.
Plays a critical role in the Indian Army's strategic planning, capabilities development, and modernisation.
Oversees soldier and officer recruiting, promotions, appointments, transfers, and welfare. Ensures Army personnel's discipline, morale, and well-being.
Ensures operational readiness, including internal security risks and defence requirements. Monitors preparedness, runs drills and prepares and executes military actions.
Represents the Indian Army in national and international forums, engages with foreign colleagues and takes part in military exercises and diplomatic missions.
Contributes military experience and insights to the development and decision-making process for defence strategy.

What Is the Salary of the Chief of Army Staff?

The Chief of Army Staff is an occupation with the highest compensation in the army. The Army Chief of India's salary is determined by the 7th Pay Commission and is paid at Level 18 of the pay scale. The remuneration of the Chief of Army Staff is determined at ₹ 2,50,000 according to Indian government guidelines.

Thus, the Indian Chief of Army Staff is a highly decorated position, and the appointed personnel is charged with several duties to protect the nation’s valour and honour. It is certainly not an easy feat but is surely worth all the struggle and hard work.

FAQs about Indian Chief of Army Staff

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What is the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff?

In India, the Chief of Army Staff [CoAS] serves for three years or until the age of 62, whichever comes first.

How is the Chief of Army Staff appointed?

The Chief of Army Staff is appointed by the President of India, who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Union Cabinet.

What is the Chief of Army Staff's role during times of conflict or war?

During times of conflict or war, the Chief of Army Staff plays a critical role in strategic decision-making, operational planning, and leading the Indian Army's efforts on the ground.

Does the Chief of Army Staff have a specific uniform?

Yes, the COAS in India wears a distinctive uniform and insignia that represent their rank and authority.

Can the Chief of Army Staff be removed from office?

Yes, the COAS can be removed from office based on retirement, resignation, or termination under specific circumstances.