General Bipin Rawat Saturday took over as the next Chief of Army Staff. General Rawat has tremendous hands on experience of serving in combat areas, and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades. He has handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the LoC with Pakistan, the LAC with China, and in the North-East.
He is known for his balanced approach towards soldiering, compassion, and connect with civil society. His experience as GOC-in-C Southern Army Command in Mechanised Warfare has been focused towards the western borders, in coordination with the other two services.He was found the best suited among the Lt. Generals, to deal with emerging challenges, including a reorganized and restructured military force in the north and continuing terrorism and proxy war from the west, and the situation in the North-East.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa took over as the next Air Force chief. The new Air Chief Marshal was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1978. He has served in various squadrons, and in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters.