NEW DELHI: Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane is set to become the next chief of the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army, Press Trust of India said quoting official sources on Monday.

Lt Gen Naravane is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Army.

Current Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat is due for retirement on Dec 31. Before taking charge as vice chief of the Army Staff in September, Lt Gen Naravane was heading the Eastern Command of the Army which takes care of India’s nearly 4,000-km border with China.

In his 37 years of service, Lt Gen Naravane has served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, PTI said.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2019