The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) is the paramount position in the Indian Army, established through the Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act of 1955. The CoAS oversees the world’s largest army, advising the Prime Minister, President, and the Ministry of Defence.
The Indian Army, initially the British Indian Army, was founded on 1st April 1895. Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa became the first Indian Army Chief in 1949. Currently, the position is held by General Upendra Dwivedi, who assumed office on 30 June 2024.
The CoAS’s tenure is either three years or until the age of 62, whichever is earlier. The role is supported by the Vice Chief of Army Staff, presently Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh. The highest rank across all defense branches is the Chief of Defence Staff, with Lt. General Anil Chauhan currently holding the post.
CoAS Responsibilities and Roles
Indian Army, the world’s largest army, boasts of 12 lakh active and 9 lakh reserve troops. The Chief of Army Staff presides over this massive force and has pivotal responsibilities, including:
- Serving as the chief advisor to the Prime Minister, President, and the Ministry of Defence.
- Overseeing ground operations and defense strategies.
- Ensuring the security and safety of the nation’s borders.
First Army Chief of India
The Indian Army was established on 1st April 1895. Formerly termed as the British Indian Army until January 1949, its legacy is rich and significant. The pioneering Commander-in-Chief was General Sir Robert Lockhart, while Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa had the honor of being the first Indian Commander-in-Chief.
Current Chief of Army Staff CoAS
General Upendra Dwivedi, the 30th Chief of Army Staff of India, assumed office on 30 June 2024 after an illustrious military career spanning nearly four decades. Commissioned into the 18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles in 1984, he has held key operational and strategic appointments across Northern, Eastern, and Western theatres, including as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.
Known for his forward-looking vision, he champions modernisation of the Indian Army with a focus on technology integration, artificial intelligence, and preparedness for fifth-generation warfare. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, he holds multiple advanced degrees and has trained at premier defence institutions in India and abroad.
Decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, General Dwivedi blends operational acumen with strategic foresight, emphasising innovation, self-reliance, and strong civil-military coordination in safeguarding national security.
List of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS)
| List of Indian Army Generals – Indian Army Chiefs | ||||
| S.No. | Name | Rank | Tenure | Unit of Commission |
| 1 | General Sir Robert Lockhart | Commander-in-Chief | 15 Aug 1947 to 31st Dec 1947 | 51 Sikhs Frontier Force |
| 2 | General Francis Robert Roy Bucher | Commander-in-Chief | 21 June 1948 – 15 January 1949 | Scottish Rifles |
| 3 | Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa | Commander-in-Chief | 16 January 1949 – 14 January 1953 | Rajput Rifles |
| 4 | General Maharaj Rajendrasinhji Jadeja | Commander-in-Chief | 15 January 1953 – 1 April 1955 | 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) |
| 5 | General Maharaj Rajendrasinhji Jadeja | Chief of Army Staff | 1 April 1955 – 14 May 1955 | 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) |
| 6 | General Satyawant Mallana Sringesh | Chief of Army Staff | 15 May 1955 – 7 May 1957 | 19th Hyderabad Regiment |
| 7 | General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya | Chief of Army Staff | 8 May 1957 – 7 May 1961 | 19th Hyderabad Regiment |
| 8 | General Pran Nath Thapar | Chief of Army Staff | 8 May 1961 – 19 November 1962 | 1st Punjab Regiment |
| 9 | General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri | Chief of Army Staff | 20 November 1962 – 7 June 1966 | 7th Light Cavalry |
| 10 | General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam | Chief of Army Staff | 8 June 1966 – 7 June 1969 | Regiment of Artillery |
| 11 | Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw | Chief of Army Staff | 8 June 1969 – 15 January 1973 | 12th Frontier Force Regiment |
| 12 | General Gopal Gurunath Bewoor | Chief of Army Staff | 16 January 1973 – 31 May 1975 | Dogra Regiment |
| 13 | General Tapishwar Narain Raina | Chief of Army Staff | 1 June 1975 – 31 May 1978 | Kumaon Regiment |
| 14 | General Om Prakash Malhotra | Chief of Army Staff | 1 June 1978 – 31 May 1981 | Regiment of Artillery |
| 15 | General Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao | Chief of Army Staff | 1 June 1981 – 31 July 1983 | Mahar Regiment |
| 16 | General Arun Kumar Shridhar Vaidya | Chief of Army Staff | 1 August 1983 – 31 January 1986 | 9th Deccan Horse |
| 17 | General Krishnaswamy Sundarji | Chief of Army Staff | 1 February 1986 – 31 May 1988 | Mahar Regiment |
| 18 | General Ashwa Nath Sharma | Chief of Army Staff | 1 June 1988 – 30 June 1990 | 16th Light Cavalry |
| 19 | General Sunith Francis Rodrigues | Chief of Army Staff | 1 July 1990 – 30 June 1993 | Regiment of Artillery |
| 20 | General Bipin Chandra Joshi | Chief of Army Staff | 1 July 1993 – 19 November 1994 | 64th Cavalry |
| 21 | General Shankar Roy Chowdhary | Chief of Army Staff | 20 November 1994 – 30 September 1997 | 20th Lancers |
| 22 | General Ved Prakash Malik | Chief of Army Staff | 1 October 1997 – 30 September 2000 | Sikh Light Infantry |
| 23 | General Sundarajan Padmanabhan | Chief of Army Staff | 1 October 2000 – 31 December 2002 | Regiment of Artillery |
| 24 | General Nirmal Chander Vij | Chief of Army Staff | 1 January 2003 – 31 January 2005 | Dogra Regiment |
| 25 | General Joginder Jaswant Singh | Chief of Army Staff | 1 February 2005 – 30 September 2007 | Maratha Light Infantry |
| 26 | General Deepak Kapoor | Chief of Army Staff | 1 October 2007 – 31 March 2010 | Regiment of Artillery |
| 27 | General Vijay Kumar Singh | Chief of Army Staff | 1 April 2010 – 31 May 2012 | Rajput Regiment |
| 28 | General Bikram Singh | Chief of Army Staff | 1 June 2012 – 31 July 2014 | Sikh Light Infantry |
| 29 | General Dalbir Singh Suhag | Chief of Army Staff | 1 August 2014 – 31 December 2016 | 5 Gorkha Rifles |
| 30 | General Bipin Rawat | Chief of Army Staff | 31 December 2016 – 31 December 2019 | 11 Gorkha Rifles |
| 31 | General Manoj Mukund Naravane | Chief of Army Staff | 31 December 2019 – 30 April 2022 | 7 Sikh Light Infantry |
| 32 | General Manoj Pande | Chief of Army Staff | 30 April 2022 – 30 June 2024 | Corps of Engineers |
| 33 | General Upendra Dwivedi | Chief of Army Staff | 30 June 2024 – Present | Jammu and Kashmir Rifles |
CoAS Tenure and Benefits
An Army Chief’s tenure lasts either for three years or until the age of 62, depending on which milestone is reached first. They’re rewarded with a handsome salary (set by the 7th pay commission) of Rs 2,50,000 alongside various other perks.
Vice Chief of Army Staff
Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 31 July 2025.
Chief of Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force
The highest position across all defense forces – Army, Navy, and Air Force – is the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The inaugural CDS was General Bipin Rawat, who assumed office on 1st January 2020. Following his unfortunate demise in December 2021, Lt. General Anil Chauhan was appointed the next CDS in September 2022.
