News Analysis India

Tag: Chief of Army Staff

  • Army alert to all threats: COAS Gen MM Naravane

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane on Wednesday said the army was alert and ready to take on any potential threats while remaining committed to maintaining peace and stability along the country’s borders. 

    With the ongoing geo-political status on the northern borders, Gen Naravane said the Indian Army was going through a challenging time, but has increased its efficiency with new weaponry and modern equipment, and added that there was a new intensity in the efforts directed at this over the last three years. He stressed that a modern and professional Indian Army has to be always ready to meet future challenges that come its way. 

    He was speaking after presenting the ‘President’s Colours’, or ‘Nishan’, to four battalions of the Parachute Regiment — 11 Para (SF), 21 Para (SF), 23 Para and 29 Para — on behalf of President Ram Nath Kovind during a Colour Presentation Parade at the Parachute Regiment Training Centre in Bengaluru.  The ‘Nishan’ is considered to be one of the greatest honours for a military unit — a recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.

    He said with a change in the area of battle, the manner in which forces are organised, too, had changed, along with the way weapons are used and how battles are fought. Towards this end, “the army has increased its efficiency with new weaponry and modern equipment. Although this process of change is continuous, there is a new intensity and speed in these efforts in the last two to three years,” he said.

  • Army Chief General MM Naravane takes charge as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The government has appointed General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, as the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (Chairman, CoSC), the post which fell vacant after the sudden demise of the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash on December 8.

    A source on Wednesday confirmed: “General Naravane has taken over the role of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, which includes the Chiefs of Navy and Air Force Staff too.” General Naravane is the senior-most chief of the Staff.

    Important issues related to the armed forces are handled by this committee. With the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in December 2019, General Rawat as the CDS had become the first permanent CoSC. CDS is the fourth and permanent member of the CoSC.

    The old practice entailed that the senior-most officer among the three services was taking over as the Chairman, CoSC. “The Armed Forces have a clear line of command and role for every position to remove any ambiguity. Since there is no name announced for the post of CDS, this is just a stopgap arrangement.” sources in the defence establishment said.

    The CDS also heads the department of military affairs as its secretary. In the absence of CDS, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal Balabhadra Radha Krishna will report to General Naravane, said the sources adding he will be the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff.

    However, the work of the secretary in the Department of Military Affairs is being looked at by additional secretary Lt General Anil Puri. Lt General Puri is the second senior-most officer in the DMA.

    This extraordinary situation emanated from the untimely death of Gen Bipin Rawat. General Rawat was killed along with his wife Madhulika Rawat, his defence assistant Brig LS Lidder, his staff officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and 11 others, including pilots and his personal staff.

    The lone survivor was Defence Services Staff College directing officer Group Captain Varun Singh but he also succumbed to injuries on December 15.

    As per the mandate, the DMA plays a crucial role in bringing jointness in procurement, training, posting and staffing for the services through joint planning and integration of their requirements.

    The CDS deals with the administrative issues of tri-services while the chiefs continue to head the operations for their respective services.

    The DMA in December 2019 came up as the fifth Department of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which frames policy directions on defence and security-related matters for implementation by the departments concerned. The other four departments of the MoD are the Department of Defence, the Department of Defence Production, the Department of Defence Research and Development, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). 

  • Army chief Naravane to inaugurate war memorial for Indian soldiers in Italy, will also visit UK

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General MM Naravane will embark on a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and Italy from July 5 to 8.

    He will be inaugurating the Indian Army Memorial in the famous town of Cassino and will be briefed at the Italian Army’s Counter IED Centre of Excellence at Cecchingola, Rome.

    As per the Ministry of Defence, during the four-day visit, he will be meeting his counterparts and senior military leaders of these countries with an aim of enhancing India’s defence cooperation.

    His visit to the United Kingdom is scheduled for two days (July 5 and 6) during which the COAS will interact with the Secretary of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of General Staff and other dignitaries.

    He will also be visiting various army formations where he will exchange ideas on issues of mutual interest.

    During the second leg of his tour (July 7 and 8), the Army Chief will be holding important discussions with the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Staff of the Italian Army.