Hope Army will rise to greater heights under the new Army Chief: CDS Rawat

10:45 December 31

Hope Army will rise to greater heights under the new Army Chief: Gen Bipin Rawat

Outgoing Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Tuesday thanked all the army personnel and their families for extending full support to him in his three-year tenure at the helm of the 1.3 million force.  After a farewell Guard of Honour, Gen Rawat also hoped that the Army will rise to greater heights under the new chief Lt Gen M M Naravane.

When asked whether the Army is better prepared now to face the security challenges facing the country he said: "Yes, we are better prepared." 

Asked about his priorities as the CDS, he said, "I totally focussed on my job as a Chief of Army Staff. I will think about my next job after I assume the next office."

Gen Rawat assumed charge as Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016 and retires from the post after a distinguished career. Before becoming the Army Chief, he handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the LoC with Pakistan, the LAC with China and in the Northeast.

09:21 December 31

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat who has been appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff of the country, pays tribute at National War Memorial.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had, on December 24, approved the creation of the CDS position, who will be the single-point military adviser to the government, as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.

07:29 December 31

Hope Army will rise to greater heights under the new Army Chief: CDS Rawat

New Delhi: Indian Army's outgoing chief General  Bipin Rawat will be superannuating here on Tuesday followed by the ceremonial function, a press note said on Monday.

The Wreath Laying ceremony will be held at 9:15 a.m., at the National War Memorial and the Guard of Honour will be given near Gate No. 2, South Block Lawns at 9:30 a.m.

Earlier, Gen. Rawat was appointed India's first Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister and head of the new Department of Military Affairs.

Read: General Bipin Rawat appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff

"The file for the appointment of India's first CDS was cleared by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning," said a senior government officer.

General Rawat had served a full three-year term as the Indian Army Chief after he superseded two officers in 2016. He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles on December 16, 1978.