Lt General BS Raju appointed as new Vice Chief of Army Staff

Lt General BS Raju will replace Lt Gen Manoj Pande as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff.

New Delhi: Lt General Baggavalli Somashekar Raju has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff and will take charge on May 1, the defence ministry said on Friday (April 29). 

Lt Gen Raju is currently working as the Director General Military Operations. Raju, a qualified helicopter pilot, oversaw the Army's overall operational readiness in eastern Ladakh.

Who is BS Raju?

Lt Gen Raju, an alumnus of Sainik School Bijapur and National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the JAT Regiment on December 15, 1984. During his career spanning 38 years, he had commanded his battalion during 'Operation Parakram' in the Western theatre and in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen Raju commanded the Uri brigade along the Line of Control, a counter-insurgency force and at the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps. He also served as the commandant of the Indian military training team in Bhutan.

The officer also served in several important regimental, staff and instructional appointments in the Army headquarters and in field formations, the defence ministry said. 

"The general officer is a qualified helicopter pilot having carried out operational flying in Somalia, as part of UNOSOM II (UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions II)," the defence ministry said, as per PTI. 

"Lt Gen Raju has attended all important career courses in India and has had the privilege of doing his NDC at Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom," ministry said in a statement.

Lt Gen Raju also holds a distinguished Master's programme degree in counter terrorism at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey in the US. He is also the recipient of Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal. 

Lt General BS Raju will take over as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff from Lt Gen Manoj Pande, who has been appointed as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff. 

Pande, who took charge as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on February 1, will helm the Indian Army after incumbent Gen MM Naravane retires on April 30. Lt Gen Pande will become the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to take charge of the force. Till now, the post has been held by officers from infantry, artillery and armoured regiments.

Meanwhile, the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) remains vacant after Gen Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash in December last year. 

(With agency inputs)