New Delhi: India today named counter-insurgency operations expert Lt Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane as the next Chief of Army Staff of the 1.4-million force beginning new year 2020.

Navavane, who had taken over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff in September this year, will succeed incumbent General Bipin Rawat, who superannuates on Dec. 31.

The handing over and taking over of the army chief’s post will happen on Dec. 31 forenoon, a senior officer at the Indian Army headquarters here said.

Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane was previously the eastern army commander at Fort William in Kolkata. The Eastern Army Command mainly focuses on performing an offensive and a defensive role against any Chinese misadventure in the northeastern states of India.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, the General was commissioned into the 7th Battalion of The Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980.

He brings with him an enormous amount of experience in serving in the most challenging areas. In a distinguished military career spanning almost four decades, he has the distinction of tenanting key appointments in active counter insurgency environment, both in the northeastern states and in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen. Naravane was a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during Operation PAWAN in the late 1980s and has had the opportunity of serving as a defence attache at the Indian embassy in Myanmar for three years.

The General is a highly decorated and accomplished officer, who has been awarded the ‘Sena Medal‘ (Distinguished) for command of his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir, the ‘Vishisht Seva Medal‘ for his services as the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) in Nagaland, the ‘Ati Vishisht Seva Medal‘ for command of a prestigious Strike Corps and was honoured with ‘Param Vishisht Seva Medal‘ for his distinguished services as the Army Training Commander.