Lt General M.M.S. Rai retired on August 31, 2016, relinquishing the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) of the Indian Army. The General Officer hung his uniform after an illustrious military career spanning four decades. Lt General Rai was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers on December 15, 1976. Apart from the regimental service, the General Officer had tenanted various key staff, instructional and command appointments including that of GOC-in-C, Eastern Command.

Lt General Bipin Rawat took over as the VCOAS of the Indian Army on September 1, 2016. He was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978, from IMA, Dehradun, where he was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’. The General Officer has vast experience in high altitude warfare and counterinsurgency operations. He commanded an Infantry battalion, along the line of actual control in the Eastern Sector; a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley. He has tenanted instructional appointments at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and at Army War College, Mhow. Lt General Rawat has held important staff appointments at the Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary’s Branch at Army HQ. He has also been Major General, General Staff, at HQ Eastern Command. The officer commanded a Multinational Brigade, in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

An alumni of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command & National Defence College Courses, the General Officer, during the span of over 35 years service in uniform, has been awarded for gallantry and distinguished service with the UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, COAS Commendation on two occasions and the Army Commander’s Commendation. Whilst serving with the United Nations, he was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.

Prior to taking over as the VCOAS, Lt General Bipin Rawat tenanted the appointment of the GOC-in-C, Southern Command.