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Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee

2022-12-14T12:40:53Z

2402:3A80:1E72:B9AA:0:0:0:2:

{{short description|Head of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
| body =
| native_name =
| flag = Flag of India.svg
| flagsize = 150px
| flagcaption = Flag of the Indian Republic
| insignia =
| insigniasize = 80px
| insigniacaption =
| image = Anil Chauhan Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| alt =
| imagecaption =
| incumbent = [[General (India)|General]] [[Anil Chauhan]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 30 September 2022
| department =
| style =
| type = Highest ranking military officer
| status = Head of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
| abbreviation = Chairman COSC<ref name="Chairman_COSC"/>
| member_of = Chiefs of Staff Committee
| reports_to = [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]
| residence =
| seat =
| nominator = [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence Minister]]
| appointer = [[President of India]]
| appointer_qualified =
| termlength = Until retirement
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor =
| formation = 15 August 1947<ref name="Mehra_relinquishes"/>
| deputy = [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]]
| first = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Rob Lockhart]]
}}

The '''Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee''' ('''Chairman COSC''')<ref name="Chairman_COSC">{{cite web|title=Chairman COSC & COAS|url=https://www.ids.nic.in/chairman-cosc.php|website=Integrated Defence Staff|access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref> is a position in the [[Indian Armed Forces]], usually held by a [[Four-star rank|four-star]] [[commanding officer|officer]] serving as the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] (CDS) of the Indian military. The position holder chairs the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and serves as the principal adviser to the [[Prime minister of India|prime minister]] and [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]. The position is not a statutory office but rather a title held by the senior most serving military officer of [[India]]. Until 2020, the chairmanship of the COSC was held in rotation by the senior-most service chief until his retirement, but this arrangement was found to be unsatisfactory.<ref name="Bikram">{{cite web |author1=TNN |title=Bikram Singh takes over chairman of chiefs of staff from Browne |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bikram-Singh-takes-over-chairman-of-chiefs-of-staff-from-Browne/articleshow/28159289.cms |website=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-24|title=Govt sets up Dept of Military Affairs to be headed by Chief of Defence Staff|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-sets-up-dept-of-military-affairs-to-be-headed-by-chief-of-defence-staff/story-eIC4HPIpbexJgGtpEfMaLI.html|access-date=2020-09-15|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> Thus, when the post of the CDS was established, its holder was also made the permanent Chairman COSC.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=24 December 2019|title=Cabinet approves creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of four star General|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1597425|access-date=16 December 2021|website=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gen-rawat-takes-over-as-chairman-of-chiefs-of-staff-committee/article29528935.ece|title=Gen. Rawat takes over as Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-09-27|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In the absence of the CDS, a temporary Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee may be appointed. On 15 December 2021, after the demise of General Bipin Rawat, the then Chief of Defence Staff on 8 December in a plane crash, General [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]] was appointed Chairman COSC. He remained in office until his retirement on 30 April 2022, following which the position fell vacant.<ref name="Naravane"/> After four months, Lieutenant General [[Anil Chauhan]] (Retired) was appointed the CDS and permanent Chairman, COSC on 28 September.

==History==
The Chiefs of Staff Committee was established on 15 August 1947, upon Indian independence, and was conceived as the "supreme professional body" to advise the Minister of Defence and the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on all military-related matters. The chairman of the committee was the Commander-in-Chief (Chief of Staff from 1955) of the three armed forces who has been on the committee for the longest. General Sir Robert Lockhart was the first chairman, with General [[K. M. Cariappa]] appointed the first Indian chairman on 14 October 1951.<ref name="Mehra_relinquishes">{{cite web|title=Mehra Relinquishes Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairmanship|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1976-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1976-01-31_041.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=31 January 1976|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> The committee was assisted by several sub-committees dealing with specific problems pertaining to administrative, training and planning matters.

Following the end of the Kargil war, [[Kargil Review Committee]] found there was a lack of communication between the service branches, and therefore suggested to create the position of [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)]]. This was however rejected by many members of the military, arguing that only great or imperial powers engaging in power projection needed that amount of integration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bratton |first1=Dr. Patrick Keo Clifton |title=Defense Reforms in a Rising India: An Organizational and Normative Shift towards Power Projection? |url=http://web.isanet.org/Web/Conferences/FLACSO-ISA%20BuenosAires%202014/Archive/97bbbaf0-ba38-437d-ba96-8843948a20aa.pdf |publisher=Hawai‘i Pacific University |access-date=15 November 2018 |page=20}}</ref> A compromise was reached with the office of the COSC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bratton |first1=Dr. Patrick Keo Clifton |title=Defense Reforms in a Rising India: An Organizational and Normative Shift towards Power Projection? |url=http://web.isanet.org/Web/Conferences/FLACSO-ISA%20BuenosAires%202014/Archive/97bbbaf0-ba38-437d-ba96-8843948a20aa.pdf |publisher=Hawai‘i Pacific University |access-date=15 November 2018 |page=21}}</ref> The chairman was responsible for inter-service synergy.<ref name="Bikram"/> However, as the Chairman COSC only served as ''[[Primus inter pares]]'' to the other Chiefs of Staff, he did not wield any power.<ref name="Economic Times">{{cite news |last1=Kanwal |first1=Gurmeet |title=Where is India's Chief of Defence Staff? |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/where-is-indias-chief-of-defence-staff-/articleshow/65975999.cms |website=The Economic Times |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=27 September 2022}}</ref> The chairman was assisted by the [[Integrated Defence Staff]].<ref>Integrated Defence Staff. [https://www.ids.nic.in/pdf/history.pdf ''History of Integrated Defence Staff'']. National Informatics Center.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ids.nic.in/chairman-cosc.php|title=Chairman COSC|website=Integrated Defence Staff}}</ref>

Talks concerning the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff position continued for over a decade,<ref name="Economic Times"/> along with a suggestion the position of chairman be made permanent, with a renewable two-year term.<ref name="Economic Times"/> Both of these suggestions were rejected by the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="Economic Times"/> In December 2018, however, the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Sunil Lanba stated the heads of the three services had "finally agreed on a permanent chief of staff committee," and the matter had been sent to the Defence Ministry for consideration.<ref name="The_Hindu">{{cite news |last1=Peri |first1=Dinakar |title=Sea trials of IAC Vikrant likely to begin in 2020: Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sea-trials-of-iac-vikrant-likely-to-commence-in-2020-navy-chief-admiral-sunil-lanba/article25653678.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=4 December 2018 |date=3 December 2022}}</ref>

On Independence Day 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the government's decision to make the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] the permanent Chairman COSC, with the CDS being a "[[Primus inter pares|first among equals]]" among the service chiefs, who would deal with India's national security with a comprehensive approach, acting as a single-point military adviser to the prime minister and defence minister.<ref name="CDS">{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Veterans, defence experts laud move to create post of CDS|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/veterans-defence-experts-laud-move-to-create-post-of-cds/article29100427.ece|website=The Hindu |access-date=15 August 2019 |date=15 August 2022}}</ref>

Following the death of the late CDS [[Bipin Rawat]] in a [[2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash|helicopter crash]] in December 2021, the government reverted to the previous system as a stop-gap arrangement and appointed General [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]] as Chairman COSC.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 16, 2021|first=Abhishek|last=Bhalla |title=Old system till new CDS appointed: Gen Naravane as senior-most service chief fills in for Gen Bipin Rawat|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/old-system-new-cds-army-chief-general-naravane-bipin-rawat-1888316-2021-12-16|access-date=2021-12-16|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-16|title=Army Chief Gen Naravane takes charge as chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/161221/army-chief-gen-naravane-takes-charge-as-chairman-of-chiefs-of-staff-co.html|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=General Naravane fills in for General Bipin Rawat as the CDS for time being; old system to continue|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/general-naravane-fills-in-for-general-bipin-rawat-as-the-cds-for-time-being-old-system-to-continue-315787-2021-12-16|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Business Today|date=16 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> He remained in office until his retirement on 30 April 2022. The post remained vacant until the appointment of Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as CDS and permanent Chairman, COSC on 28 September.

==List of chairmen==
† Died in office.
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| image_title = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
| showtermlenght = y
| showparty = n
| showdefencebranch = y
| showref = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 1
| image = General Sir Mcgregor Macdonald Lockhart.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Rob Lockhart|Sir Robert Mcgregor Macdonald Lockhart]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCB|CIE|MC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Lockhart, Rob
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1893
| died_year = 1981
| term_start = 15 August 1947
| term_end = 31 December 1947
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1947|08|15|1947|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=MEHIRA RELINQUISHES CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1976-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1976-01-31_041.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Chatterji_takes">{{cite web|title=Admiral Chatterji Takes Over|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1969-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-VOL-2/PDF/DEF-1969-07-17_030.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=17 July 1969|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 2
| image =
| military_rank = [[Air Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Thomas Elmhirst|Sir Thomas Elmhirst]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KBE|CB|AFC|DL}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Elmhirst, Thomas
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1895
| died_year = 1982
| term_start = 31 December 1947
| term_end = 26 January 1950
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1947|12|31|1950|01|26}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Chatterji_takes"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 3
| image =
| military_rank = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Edward Parry (Royal Navy officer)|Sir William Edward Parry]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Parry, Edward
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1893
| died_year = 1970
| term_start = 26 January 1950
| term_end = 13 October 1951
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1950|01|26|1951|10|13}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Chatterji_takes"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 4
| image = General_K._M._Cariappa.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[K. M. Cariappa|Kodandera Madappa Cariappa]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OBE}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Cariappa, K M
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1899
| died_year = 1993
| term_start = 14 October 1951
| term_end = 14 January 1953
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1951|10|14|1953|01|14}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=GENERAL MANEKSHAW TAKES OVER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-02-24_077.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Mehra_relinquishes"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 5
| image =
| military_rank = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Charles Pizey|Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=GBR|KBE|CB|DSO*}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Pizey, Charles
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1899
| died_year = 1993
| term_start = 14 January 1953
| term_end = 22 July 1955
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1953|01|14|1955|07|22}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 6
| image = SubrotoMukherjee.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Subroto Mukerjee]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OBE}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Mukerjee, Subroto
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1911
| died_year = 1960
| term_start = 22 July 1955
| term_end = 8 November 1960†
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1955|07|22|1960|11|08}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=MOST DISTINGUISHED AIR FORCE OFFICER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-11-09_165.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 7
| image = General_Kodandera_Subayya_Thimayya.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DSO}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Thimayya, K S
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1906
| died_year = 1965
| term_start = 9 November 1960
| term_end = 7 May 1961
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1960|11|09|1961|05|07}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=GENERAL MANEKSHAW TAKES OVER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-02-24_077.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 8
| image = Vice Admiral Ram Dass Katari.jpg
| military_rank = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Ram Dass Katari]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Katari, Ram Dass
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1911
| died_year = 1983
| term_start = 7 May 1961
| term_end = 4 June 1962
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1961|05|07|1962|06|04}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite book |last1=Katari |first1=Ram Dass |title=A sailor remembers |year=1982 |publisher=Vikas |isbn=978-0706920642 |pages=105}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 9
| image = Air_Marshal_Aspy_Engineer.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Aspy Engineer|Aspy Marwan Engineer]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DFC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Engineer, Aspy
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1912
| died_year = 2002
| term_start = 4 June 1962
| term_end = 24 July 1964
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1962|06|04|1964|07|24}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Air Chief Hands over Chairmanship to Naval Chief |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1964-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1964-07-24_038.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 10
| image =
| military_rank = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman]]
| officeholder_sort = Soman, Bhaskar Sadashiv
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1913
| died_year = 1995
| term_start = 24 July 1964
| term_end = 3 March 1966
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1964|07|24|1966|03|03}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Air Chief Hands over Chairmanship to Naval Chief |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1964-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1964-07-24_038.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 11
| image = General_Jayanto_Nath_Chaudhuri.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OBE}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Chaudhuri, Jayanto Nath
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1908
| died_year = 1983
| term_start = 3 March 1966
| term_end = 7 June 1966
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1966|03|03|1966|06|07}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=GENERAL MANEKSHAW TAKES OVER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-02-24_077.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 12
| image = Marshal Arjan Singh (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Arjan Singh]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DFC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Arjan
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1919
| died_year = 2017
| term_start = 7 June 1966
| term_end = 15 July 1969
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1966|06|07|1969|07|15}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=CIFS OF STAFF FAREWELL TO AIR CHIEF |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1969-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-VOL-2/PDF/DEF-1969-07-10_020.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 13
| image = Adm AK Chatterji.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Adhar Kumar Chatterji]]
| officeholder_sort = Chatterji, Adhar Kumar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1914
| died_year = 2001
| term_start = 15 July 1969
| term_end = 24 February 1970
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1969|07|15|1970|02|24}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Chatterji_takes" /><ref>{{cite web |title=GENERAL MANEKSHAW TAKES OVER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-02-24_077.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 14
| image = FM_Sam_Manekshaw.jpg
| military_rank = [[Field marshal (India)|Field Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Sam Manekshaw|Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|MC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Manekshaw, Sam
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1914
| died_year = 2008
| term_start = 24 February 1970
| term_end = 15 January 1973
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1970|02|24|1973|01|15}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=GENERAL MANEKSHAW TAKES OVER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-02-24_077.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 15
| image = General Gopal Gurnath Bewoor (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Bewoor, Gopal
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1916
| died_year = 1989
| term_start = 15 January 1973
| term_end = 1 January 1975
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1973|01|15|1975|01|01}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title = MEHRA RELINQUISHES CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1976-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1976-01-31_041.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 16
| image = ACM OP Mehra.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Om Prakash Mehra]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Mehra, Om Prakash
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1919
| died_year = 2015
| term_start = 1 January 1975
| term_end = 31 January 1976
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1975|01|01|1976|01|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title = MEHRA RELINQUISHES CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1976-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1976-01-31_041.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 17
| image = Adm SN Kohli.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Sourendra Nath Kohli]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Kohli, Sourendra Nath
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1916
| died_year = 2007
| term_start = 31 January 1976
| term_end = 29 February 1976
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1970|02|24|1973|01|15}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title = MEHRA RELINQUISHES CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1976-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1976-01-31_041.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 18
| image = General_Tapishwar_Narain_Raina.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Tapishwar Narain Raina]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|MVC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Raina, Tapishwar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1921
| died_year = 1980
| term_start = 29 February 1976
| term_end = 31 May 1978
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1976|02|29|1978|05|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite book |title=Transition to triumph : history of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975 |year=2000 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-1897829721}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 19
| image = AM H Moolgavkar.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Hrushikesh Moolgavkar]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|MVC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Moolgavkar, Hrushikesh
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1920
| died_year = 2015
| term_start = 31 May 1978
| term_end = 30 August 1978
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1978|05|31|1978|08|30}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=New Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1978-APR-AUG-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-PART-2/PDF/DEF-1978-06-31_087.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 20
| image =
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Jal Cursetji]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Cursetji, Jal
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1919
| died_year = 1991
| term_start = 30 August 1978
| term_end = 1 March 1979
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1978|08|30|1979|03|01}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 21
| image = Om-prakash-Mhalotra.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Om Prakash Malhotra]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Malhotra, Om Prakash
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1922
| died_year = 2015
| term_start = 1 March 1979
| term_end = 31 May 1981
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1979|03|01|1981|05|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=ARMY SOUTHERN COMMAND RETAIN SPORTS TROPHY |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1979-JUNE-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-PART-II/PDF/DEF-1979-11-08_190.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 22
| image = ACM IH Latif.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Idris Hasan Latif]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Latif, Idris
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1923
| died_year = 2018
| term_start = 31 May 1981
| term_end = 30 August 1981
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1981|05|31|1981|08|30}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL PEREIRA BECOMES CHAIRMAN OF CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1981-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-JULY-DEC/PDF/DEF-1981-09-01_082.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=1 September 1981}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 23
| image = Ronald-lynsdale-pereira (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Ronald Lynsdale Pereira]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Pereira, Ronald
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1923
| died_year = 1993
| term_start = 30 August 1981
| term_end = 26 February 1982
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1981|08|30|1982|02|26}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL PEREIRA BECOMES CHAIRMAN OF CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1981-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-JULY-DEC/PDF/DEF-1981-09-01_082.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=1 September 1981}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NAVY BIDS FAREWELL TO ITS MOST DISTINGUISHED SAILOR |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1982-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1982-02-26_110.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 24
| image = General_Kotikalapudi_Venkata_Krishna_Rao.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[K. V. Krishna Rao|Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Rao, Krishna
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1923
| died_year = 2016
| term_start = 1 March 1982
| term_end = 31 July 1983
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1982|03|01|1983|07|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Former Army Chief General KV Krishna Rao Dies At 92 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-army-chief-general-kv-krishna-rao-dies-1271821 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 25
| image = Dilbag_singh.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Dilbagh Singh]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Dilbagh
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1926
| died_year = 2001
| term_start = 31 July 1983
| term_end = 3 September 1984
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1983|07|31|1984|09|03}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=NEW CHAIRMAN OF CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/BROADCASTING/1984-JAN-DEC-MINISTRY%20OF%20INFORMATION%20BROADCASTING/PDF/BRO-1984-09-05_259.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 26
| image = Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson (cropped).png
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Oscar Stanley Dawson]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Dawson, Oscar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1923
| died_year = 2011
| term_start = 5 September 1984
| term_end = 30 November 1984
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|09|05|1984|11|30}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=NEW CHAIRMAN OF CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/BROADCASTING/1984-JAN-DEC-MINISTRY%20OF%20INFORMATION%20BROADCASTING/PDF/BRO-1984-09-05_259.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 27
| image = General_Arunkumar_Shridhar_Vaidya.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Arun Shridhar Vaidya]] {{small|[[PVSM]], [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] [[Medal bar|& Bar]], [[AVSM]]}}
| officeholder_sort = Vaidya, Arun
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1926
| died_year = 1986
| term_start = 1 December 1984
| term_end = 31 January 1986
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|12|01|1986|01|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Tahiliani|first=Admiral (Retd.) RH|date=2013|title=Chiefs of Staff|url=https://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/doc/Quarterdeck2013.pdf|journal=Quarterdeck|pages=30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=TOPNO BEST SERVICES SPORTSMAN |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1985-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1985-04-25_141.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 28
| image = Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Tahiliani, Radhakrishna
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1930
| died_year = 2015
| term_start = 1 February 1986
| term_end = 30 November 1987
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1986|02|01|1987|11|30}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite book |title=The Sri Lankan crisis |publisher=Lancer International |isbn=8170620635 |page=50}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/doc/Quarterdeck2013.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 29
| image = Denis La Fontaine.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Denis La Fontaine]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = La Fontaine, Denis
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1929
| died_year = 2011
| term_start = 1 December 1987
| term_end = 31 July 1988
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1987|12|01|1988|05|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE BIDS FAREWELL TO GEN SUNDARJI |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1988-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE%20I/PDF/DEF-1988-04-26_109.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 30
| image = Jayant Nadkarni.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|NM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Nadkarni, Jayant
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1931
| died_year = 2018
| term_start = 1 July 1988
| term_end = 30 November 1990
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1988|07|01|1990|11|30}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite book |title=Nuclear policy and national security |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=9788170995210 |page=262 |edition=1st|year=1993 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE BIDS FAREWELL TO ADMIRAL NADKARNI |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1990-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-II/PDF/DEF-1990-11-26_152.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 31
| image =
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Surinder Mehra]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Mehra, Surinder
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1932
| died_year = 2003
| term_start = 1 December 1990
| term_end = 31 July 1991
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1990|12|01|1991|07|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Chiefs of Staff Committee of Defence Services bids farewell to its Chairman| url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1991-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1991-07-29_180.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE BIDS FAREWELL TO ADMIRAL NADKARNI |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1990-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-II/PDF/DEF-1990-11-26_152.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 32
| image = General_Sunith_Francis_Rodrigues.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Sunith Francis Rodrigues]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Rodrigues, Sunith
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1933
| died_year = 2022
| term_start = 1 August 1991
| term_end = 30 June 1993
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1991|08|01|1993|06|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Chiefs of Staff Committee of Defence Services bids farewell to its Chairman |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1991-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1991-07-29_180.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 33
| image = Ramdas l.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Laxminarayan Ramdas]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Ramdas, Laxminarayan
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1933
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 July 1993
| term_end = 30 September 1993
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|07|01|1993|09|30}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Admiral (Rtd) Ramdas urges President Kovind to intervene post-Pulwama |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/admiral-rtd-ramdas-urges-president-kovind-to-intervene-post-pulwama |website=National Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL L RAMDAS TAKES OVER AS CHAIRMAN CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1993-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1993-06-29_167.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 34
| image = General_Bipin_Chandra_Joshi.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Bipin Chandra Joshi]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Joshi, Bipin
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1935
| died_year = 1994
| term_start = 1 October 1993
| term_end = 19 November 1994†
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|10|01|1994|11|19}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 35
| image = ACM_SK_Kaul.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[S. K. Kaul|Swaroop Krishna Kaul]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|MVC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Kaul, Swaroop
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1935
| died_year =
| term_start = 20 November 1994
| term_end = 31 December 1995
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|11|20|1995|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Swaroop Krishna Kaul PVSM MVC ADC CAS {{!}} Indian Air Force {{!}} Government of India |url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/swaroop-krishna-kaul-pvsm-mvc-adc-cas |website=indianairforce.nic.in}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 36
| image =
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Vijai Singh Shekhawat]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Shekhawat, Vijai Singh
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1933
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 December 1995
| term_end = 30 September 1996
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1995|12|31|1996|09|30}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=NAVY AND ARMY COMMANDERS CONFERENCES OPEN |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1996-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1996-06-10_151.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 37
| image = Gen_Shankar_Roy_Chowdhary.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Shankar Roychowdhury]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Roychowdhury, Shankar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1937
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 January 1996
| term_end = 30 September 1997
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1996|01|01|1997|09|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref name="rediff.com">{{cite web |title=Rediff On The NeT: Sareen nominated chairman of defence chiefs' panel |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/sep/22air.htm |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 38
| image =
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Satish Sareen]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Sareen, Satish
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1939
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 October 1997
| term_end = 31 December 1998
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1997|10|01|1998|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref name="rediff.com">{{cite web |title=Rediff On The NeT: Sareen nominated chairman of defence chiefs' panel |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/sep/22air.htm |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SAREEN TO BE CHAIRMAN CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1997-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1997-09-22_084.pdf}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 39
| image = Gen vp malik1.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Ved Prakash Malik]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Malik, Ved
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1939
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 January 1999
| term_end = 30 September 2000
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1999|01|01|2000|09|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Malik V.p. General |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/author/cr-121506/malik-v-p-general/ |website=HarperCollins Publishers |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="Sushil">{{cite web |title=Admiral Sushil Kumar new chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee |url=http://zeenews.india.com/home/admiral-sushil-kumar-new-chairman-of-chiefs-of-staff-committee_1483.html |website=Zee News |publisher=Essel Group Company |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=14 September 2000}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 40
| image = Admiral_Sushil_Kumar.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Sushil Kumar (admiral)|Sushil Kumar]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|NM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Kumar, Sushil
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1940
| died_year = 2019
| term_start = 1 October 2000
| term_end = 29 December 2001
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2000|10|01|2001|12|29}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Sushil"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 41
| image = General Sundararajan Padmanabhan.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Sundararajan Padmanabhan]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Padmanabhan, Sundararajan
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1940
| died_year =
| term_start = 30 December 2001
| term_end = 31 December 2002
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2001|12|30|2002|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Singh">{{cite web |author1=TNN |title=Navy chief to head COSC|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Navy-chief-to-head-COSC/articleshow/32287398.cms?referral=PM |website=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=24 December 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 42
| image = Admiral Madhvendra Singh (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Madhvendra Singh]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Madhvendra
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 December 2002
| term_end = 31 July 2004
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2002|12|31|2004|07|31}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Singh"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 43
| image = ACM_S_Krishnaswamy.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy]] {{small|[[PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]] [[Medal Bar|& bar]]}}
| officeholder_sort = Krishnaswamy, Srinivasapuram
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1943
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 July 2004
| term_end = 29 December 2004
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|07|31|2004|12|29}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref name = "vij"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 44
| image = General Vij.png
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Nirmal Chander Vij]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Vij, Nirmal Chander
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1943
| died_year =
| term_start = 30 December 2004
| term_end = 30 January 2005
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|12|30|2005|01|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref name=vij>{{cite news|title=Gen Vij new head of chiefs of staff panel|url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gen-Vij-new-head-of-chiefs-of-staff-panel/articleshow/976587.cms}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 45
| image = Arun Prakash.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Arun Prakash]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Prakash, Arun
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1944
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 January 2005
| term_end = 31 October 2006
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|01|31|2006|10|31}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="vij"/>
}}

{{Officeholder table
| order = 46
| image =
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Shashindra Pal Tyagi]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Tyagi, Shashindra Pal
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1945
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 October 2006
| term_end = 31 March 2007
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2006|10|31|2007|03|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 47
| image = General J. J. Singh.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Joginder Jaswant Singh]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Joginder Jaswant
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1945
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 March 2007
| term_end = 30 September 2007
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|03|31|2007|09|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 48
| image = Sureesh Mehta CNS.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Sureesh Mehta]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Mehta, Sureesh
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1947
| died_year =
| term_start = 30 September 2007
| term_end = 31 August 2009
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|09|30|2009|08|31}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 49
| image = General Deepak Kapoor.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Deepak Kapoor]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Kapoor, Deepak
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1948
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 August 2009
| term_end = 31 March 2010
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|08|31|2010|03|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 50
| image = Pradeep Vasant Naik (crop).jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Pradeep Vasant Naik]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Naik, Pradeep
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1949
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 March 2010
| term_end = 30 July 2011
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2010|03|31|2011|07|30}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref>{{cite web |last1=Dutta |first1=Sujan |title=Generation shift in air force |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/generation-shift-in-air-force/cid/368619 |website=The Telegraph |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=30 November 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 51
| image = Admiral Verma (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Nirmal Kumar Verma]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Naik, Pradeep
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1949
| died_year =
| term_start = 30 July 2011
| term_end = 31 August 2012
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|07|30|2012|08|31}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Verma">{{cite web |title=Admiral Nirmal Verma now heads chiefs of staff committee |url=https://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20110730_staff_committee.html |website=domain-b.com |publisher=The Information Company Private Limited |access-date=15 November 2018 |location=New Delhi |date=30 July 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 52
| image = Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Browne, Norman
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1951
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 August 2012
| term_end = 31 December 2013
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2012|08|31|2013|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 53
| image = Gen Bikram Singh.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Bikram Singh (general)|Bikram Singh]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Bikram
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1951
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 December 2013
| term_end = 31 July 2014
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|12|31|2014|07|31}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Bikram"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 54
| image = ACM Arup Raha.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Arup Raha]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Raha, Arup
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1954
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 July 2014
| term_end = 31 December 2016
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|07|31|2016|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = .
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 55
| image = Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy.jpg
| military_rank = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| officeholder = [[Sunil Lanba]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Raha, Arup
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1957
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 December 2016
| term_end = 31 May 2019
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2016|12|31|2019|05|31}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Lanba">{{cite web |author1=TNN |title=Navy chief now to head chiefs of staff committee |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/navy-chief-now-to-head-chiefs-of-staff-committee/articleshow/56246666.cms |website=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=30 December 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 56
| image = Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa takes over as the Chief of Air Staff, in New Delhi on December 31, 2016.jpg
| military_rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Birender Singh Dhanoa]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|VM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Dhanoa, Birender Singh
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1957
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 May 2019
| term_end = 27 September 2019
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|05|31|2019|09|27}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Dhanoa">{{cite web|title=Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa gets baton of COSC chief |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/air-chief-marshal-dhanoa-gets-baton-of-cosc-chief/article27283810.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=29 May 2019|date=29 May 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 57
| image = Bipin Rawat Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Bipin Rawat]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|YSM|SM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Rawat, Bipin
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1958
| died_year = 2021
| term_start = 27 September 2019{{efn|Held temporarily until creation of post of Chief of the Defense Staff (CDS) on 1 January 2020, when Chairman COSC made permanent in tandem with CDS post.<ref name=":6"/>}}
| term_end = [[2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash|8 December 2021]]†
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|09|27|2021|12|08}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Rawat">{{cite web|title=Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat to take over as chairman of CCS tomorrow|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-chief-gen-bipin-rawat-take-over-chairman-ccs-1603531-2019-09-26|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref>
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
|colspan=8|''Vacant 8–15 December 2021''
{{Officeholder table
| order = – 
| image = General Manoj Mukund Naravane PVSM AVSM SM VSM ADC (1).jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Naravane, Manoj Mukund
| officeholder_note =
| acting = y 
| born_year = 1960
| died_year =
| term_start = 15 December 2021
| term_end = 30 April 2022
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|12|15|2022|4|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref = <ref name="Naravane">{{cite news |last1=Bhalla |first1=Abhishek |title=Old system till new CDS appointed: Gen Naravane as senior-most service chief fills in for Gen Bipin Rawat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/old-system-new-cds-army-chief-general-naravane-bipin-rawat-1888316-2021-12-16 |access-date=16 December 2021 |work=India Today |date=16 December 2021}}</ref>
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
|colspan=8|''Vacant 30 April 2022 – 30 September 2022''
{{Officeholder table
| order = 58
| image = General Anil Chauhan.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Anil Chauhan]] {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Chauhan, Anil
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1961
| died_year =
| term_start = 30 September 2022
| term_end = ''Incumbent''
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2022|9|30}}
| defence_branch = {{army|India}}
| ref =
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta handed over the baton of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee to the Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, in New Delhi on August 31, 2009.jpg|Adm Sureesh Mehta handing over the Baton of Chairman COSC to Gen Deepak Kapoor
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik receiving the baton as he took over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) from outgoing Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor at a brief ceremony.jpg|Gen Deepak Kapoor handing over the Baton of Chairman COSC to ACM P V Naik
The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma taking over the Baton of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee from outgoing Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, in New Delhi on July 29, 2011.jpg|ACM P V Naik handing over the Baton of Chairman COSC to Adm Nirmal Verma
The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne handing over the Baton of the Chairman Chiefs of the Staff Committee to the Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh.jpg|ACM NAK Browne handing over the Baton of Chairman COSC to Gen Bikram Singh
The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba receiving the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) baton from outgoing Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha at a ceremony, in New Delhi.jpg|ACM Arup Raha handing over the Baton of Chairman COSC to Adm Sunil Lanba
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa handing over the baton of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) to the Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, at a function, in New Delhi on September 27, 2019.jpg|ACM Birender Singh Dhanoa handing over the baton of Chairman COSC to Gen Bipin Rawat
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]]
* [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]]
* [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]
* [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
* [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]]
* [[Chief of the General Staff (India)|Chief of the General Staff]]
* [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief of India]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Chief of Defence Staff (India)}}

[[Category:Indian Army]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]

Chief of the Army Staff India

2022-12-14T12:09:13Z

2402:3A80:1E72:B9AA:0:0:0:2:

{{Short description|The army head of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief
| body = the Army Staff
| native_name =
| flag = Flag COAS.svg
| flagsize =
| flagborder =
| flagcaption = [[List of Indian flags#Army|Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff]]
| insignia =
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption =
| image = Gen Manoj Pandey.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| incumbent = [[General (India)|General]] [[Manoj Pande]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM|ADC}}
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 30 April 2022
| type =
| status = Military branch chief
| department = {{army|India}}
| style =
| member_of = [[Strategic Policy Group]] [[Defence Planning Committee]] [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Council]] Defence Acquisition Council
| reports_to = [[File:Flag of India.svg|20px]] [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[File:Flag of the Ministry of Defence of India.svg|20px]] [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] [[File:Flag of Chief of Defence Staff (India).svg|20px]] [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]]
| residence =
| seat = [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Central Secretariat]]
| nominator =
| appointer = [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet|ACC]] [[President of India]]
| appointer_qualified =
| termlength = {{raise|0.0em|3 years or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.}}
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument = [https://mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/TheArmyAct1950.pdf Army Act, 1950 (Act No. 46 of 1950)]
| precursor = Chief of the Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1948|06|21}}
| first = [[General (India)|General]] [[Rob Lockhart]]
| last =
| abolished =
| succession =
| abbreviation = COAS
| unofficial_names = Army Chief
| deputy = {{flagicon image|Flag of Indian Vice Chief of Army Staff.svg|size=24px}} [[Vice Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Army Staff]]
| salary = {{INRConvert|250000}} monthly<ref name="7 Pay Commission Report">{{cite web|url=http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf|title=Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission of India|publisher=Seventh Central [[Pay Commission]], [[Government of India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120092637/http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf|archive-date=20 November 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":India Today 7CPC">{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/7th-pay-commission-cleared-what-is-pay-commission-how-does-it-effect-our-pockets/1/703452.html|title=7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?|date=June 29, 2016|editor-last=Biswas|editor-first=Shreya|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref>
}}
The '''Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)''' (unofficially known as the '''Army Chief''') is a statutory position in the [[Indian Army]] held usually by a four star [[general]]. As the highest ranking officer to serve solely in the [[Indian Army]], the chief is the professional head of the ground forces and a key adviser to the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]. The COAS, in a separate capacity, is also a member of the [[National Security Council]] and thereby an advisor to the president and the prime minister. The COAS is typically the most senior army officer in the [[Indian Armed Forces]], unless the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff ]] and/or the [[Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee]] is an army officer.

==Office of the Chief of the Army Staff==

The post of [[Commander-in-Chief, India]] was established in 1748 to designate the commander of all forces of [[East India Company]].

After 1857 , the Commander-in-Chief become the supreme commander of the [[British Indian Army]]. The C-in-C was also the overall head of the armed forces of the [[British Raj|British India]] including the [[Royal Indian Air Force]] and [[Royal Indian Navy]]. The Commander-in-Chief was also closely in contact with Office of the [[Viceroy of india|Viceroy of India]].

After partition in 1947 the post of Commander-in-Chief was divided into:- Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army, [[Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army|Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army]] and Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in India and Pakistan. At Independence, the head of the Indian Army was designated as the "'''Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army'''". On 21 June 1948, the title of "Chief of the Army Staff" was added,<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Communique|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-06-21_287.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=21 June 1948|access-date=19 October 2022}}</ref> with the post correspondingly re-designated as the "'''Chief of the Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army'''". The designation was again changed to "'''Chief of Army Staff"''' through the Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act ,1955.<ref name="india-cincact3">{{cite web|title=The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955|url=http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/laws/The-Commanders-In-Chief-Change-in-Designation-Act-1955.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111144149/http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/laws/The-Commanders-In-Chief-Change-in-Designation-Act-1955.html|archive-date=11 November 2011|access-date=18 October 2011|publisher=VakilNo1.com|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The office is based at [[South Block]] of the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Central Secretariat]] at [[Raisina Hill]], [[New Delhi]].

Appointments to the office are made by the [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]] (ACC). The COAS reaches [[superannuation]] upon three years in the office or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

==Appointees==
{{For|the army heads before India's independence|Commander-in-Chief, India}}

The following table chronicles the appointees to the office of the Chief of the Army Staff or its preceding positions since the [[independence of India]].<ref name="ia-coas">{{cite web |last=Official Indian Army Web Portal |title=Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/site/FormTemplete/frmTemp1PTC2C.aspx?MnId=KlXwOige5RfLtzzoCqAdnQ%3D%3D&ParentID=03FzZ1bcM4iK4xVqplbx8w%3D%3D&flag=8CKP966uzg96kLov0aWdfQ%3D%3D |website=www.indianarmy.nic.in |access-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718121307/https://indianarmy.nic.in/site/FormTemplete/frmTemp1PTC2C.aspx?MnId=KlXwOige5RfLtzzoCqAdnQ%3D%3D&ParentID=03FzZ1bcM4iK4xVqplbx8w%3D%3D&flag=8CKP966uzg96kLov0aWdfQ%3D%3D |archive-date=18 July 2021}}</ref> Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:

===Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army (1947–1955)===
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| image_title = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght = y
| showelection = y
| election_title = Unit of Commission
| showparty = n
| showdefencebranch = n

}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 1
| image = General Sir Mcgregor Macdonald Lockhart.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| officeholder = {{nowrap|[[Rob Lockhart|Sir Robert Mcgregor Macdonald Lockhart]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCB|CIE|MC}}}}
| officeholder_sort = Lockhart, Rob
| officeholder_note = {{Efn|Formerly ''[[British Indian Army]]''. Seconded from the ''[[British Army]]''.|name=British Army}}
| born_year = 1893
| died_year = 1981
| term_start = 15 August 1947
| term_end = 31 December 1947
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1947|08|15|1947|12|01}}
| election = [[51st Sikhs]]

}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 2
| image = General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Roy Bucher|Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|MC}}
| officeholder_sort = Bucher, Roy
| officeholder_note = {{Efn|name=British Army}}
| born_year = 1895
| died_year = 1980
| term_start = 1 January 1948
| term_end = 14 January 1949
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1948|01|01|1949|01|15}}
| election = [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|4th Cameronians]]
}}

{{Officeholder table
| order = 3
| image = General K. M. Cariappa.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Kodandera M. Cariappa|Kodandera Madappa Cariappa]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|OBE}}
| officeholder_sort = Cariappa, Kodandera
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1899
| died_year = 1993
| term_start = 15 January 1949
| term_end = 14 January 1953
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1949|01|15|1953|01|14}}
| election = [[88th Carnatic Infantry]]
| ref = —
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 4
| image = Gen Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Maharaj]] [[Shri]] [[Rajendrasinhji Jadeja]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort = Jadeja, Rajendrasinhji
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1899
| died_year = 1964
| term_start = 14 January 1953
| term_end = 1 April 1955
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1953|01|14|1955|04|01}}
| election = [[2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)]]
| ref = <ref name="BRmksr">{{cite web |last1=Contibutor |first1=Bharat Rakshak - Indian Army & Land Forces |title=General Maharaj Kumar Shri Rajendrasinhji DSO |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/personnel/chiefs/123-shri-rajendrasinhji.html |website=www.Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111071604/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/personnel/chiefs/123-shri-rajendrasinhji.html |archive-date=11 January 2018 |df=dmy}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

===Chief of the Army Staff (1955–present)===
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| image_title = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght = y
| showelection = y
| election_title = Unit of Commission
| showparty = n
| showdefencebranch = n
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 1
| image = Gen Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Maharaj]] [[Shri]] [[Rajendrasinhji Jadeja]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort = Jadeja, Rajendrasinhji
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1899
| died_year = 1964
| term_start = 1 April 1955
| term_end = 14 May 1955
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1955|04|01|1955|05|14}}
| election = [[2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 2
| image = General Satyawant Mallana Srinagesh.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[S. M. Shrinagesh|Satyawant Mallana Srinagesh]]
| officeholder_sort = Shrinagesh, S.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1903
| died_year = 1977
| term_start = 15 May 1955
| term_end = 7 May 1957
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1955|05|15|1957|05|07}}
| election = [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 3
| image = General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort = Thimayya, Kodendera
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1906
| died_year = 1965
| term_start = 8 May 1957
| term_end = 7 May 1961
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1957|05|07|1961|05|07}}
| election = [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 4
| image = General Pran Nath Thapar.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Pran Nath Thapar]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Thapar, Pran
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1906
| died_year = 1975
| term_start = 8 May 1961
| term_end = 19 November 1962
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1961|05|08|1962|11|19}}
| election = [[1st Punjab Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 5
| image = General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|OBE}}
| officeholder_sort = Chaudhuri, Jayanto Nath
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1908
| died_year = 1983
| term_start = 20 November 1962
| term_end = 7 June 1966
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1962|11|20|1966|06|07}}
| election = [[16th Light Cavalry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 6
| image = General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumramangalam.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|DSO|MBE}}
| officeholder_sort = Kumaramangalam, Paramasiva Prabhakar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1913
| died_year = 2000
| term_start = 8 June 1966
| term_end = 7 June 1969
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1966|06|08|1969|06|07}}
| election = [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 7
| image = FM Sam Manekshaw.jpg
| military_rank = [[Field marshal (India)|Field Marshal]]
| officeholder = [[Sam Manekshaw|Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw]], {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|MC}}
| officeholder_sort = Manekshaw, Sam
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1914
| died_year = 2008
| term_start = 8 June 1969
| term_end = 15 January 1973
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1969|06|08|1973|01|15}}
| election = [[2/8 Gorkha Rifles]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 8
| image = General Gopal Gurnath Bewoor.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Bewoor, Gopal Gurunath
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1916
| died_year = 1989
| term_start = 16 January 1973
| term_end = 31 May 1975
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1973|01|16|1975|05|31}}
| election = [[Dogra Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 9
| image = General Tapishwar Narain Raina.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Tapishwar Narain Raina]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|MVC|SM}}
| officeholder_sort = Raina, Tapishwar Narain
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1921
| died_year = 1980
| term_start = 1 June 1975
| term_end = 31 May 1978
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1975|06|01|1978|05|31}}
| election = [[Kumaon Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 10
| image = Om-prakash-Mhalotra.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Om Prakash Malhotra]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Malhotra, Om Prakash
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1922
| died_year = 2015
| term_start = 1 June 1978
| term_end = 31 May 1981
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1978|06|01|1981|05|31}}
| election = [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 11
| image = General Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[K. V. Krishna Rao|Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Rao, K.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1923
| died_year = 2016
| term_start = 1 June 1981
| term_end = 31 July 1983
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1981|06|01|1983|05|31}}
| election = [[Mahar Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 12
| image = General Arunkumar Shridhar Vaidya.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Arun Shridhar Vaidya|Arunkumar Shridhar Vaidya]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|MVC|AVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Vaidya, Arun Shridhar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1926
| died_year = 1986
| term_start = 1 August 1983
| term_end = 31 January 1986
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1983|06|01|1986|01|31}}
| election = [[9th Deccan Horse]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 13
| image = General Krishnaswami Sundarji.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Krishnaswamy Sundarji]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Sundarji, Krishnaswamy
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1928
| died_year = 1999
| term_start = 1 February 1986
| term_end = 31 May 1988
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1986|02|01|1988|05|31}}
| election = [[Mahar Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 14
| image = General Vishwa Nath Sharma.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Vishwa Nath Sharma]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Sharma, Vishwa Nath
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1930
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 June 1988
| term_end = 30 June 1990
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1988|06|01|1990|06|30}}
| election = [[16th Light Cavalry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 15
| image = General Sunith Francis Rodrigues.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Sunith Francis Rodrigues]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|VSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Rodrigues, Sunith Francis
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1933
| died_year = 2022
| term_start = 1 July 1990
| term_end = 30 June 1993
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1990|07|01|1993|06|30}}
| election = [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 16
| image = General Bipin Chandra Joshi.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Bipin Chandra Joshi]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Joshi, Bipin Chandra
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1935
| died_year = 1994
| term_start = 1 July 1993
| term_end = 19 November 1994
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|07|01|1994|11|19}}
| election = [[64th Cavalry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 17
| image = Gen Shankar Roy Chowdhary.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Shankar Roychowdhury|Shankar Roy Chowdhary]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Roychowdhury, Shankar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1937
| died_year =
| term_start = 20 November 1994
| term_end = 30 September 1997
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|11|20|1997|09|30}}
| election = [[20 Lancers (India)|20th Lancers]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 18
| image = Gen vp malik1.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Ved Prakash Malik]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Chowdhury, Shankar Roy
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1939
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 October 1997
| term_end = 30 September 2000
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1997|10|01|2000|09|30}}
| election = [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 19
| image = General Sundararajan Padmanabhan.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Sundararajan Padmanabhan]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Padmanabhan, Sundararajan
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1940
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 October 2000
| term_end = 31 December 2002
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2000|10|01|2002|12|31}}
| election = [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 20
| image =
General Nirmal Chander Vij.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Nirmal Chander Vij]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM}}
| officeholder_sort = Vij, Nirmal Chander
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1943
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 January 2003
| term_end = 31 January 2005
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2003|01|01|2005|01|31}}
| election = [[Dogra Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 21
| image = General J. J. Singh.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Joginder Jaswant Singh]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Vij, Nirmal Chander
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1945
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 February 2005
| term_end = 30 September 2007
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|02|01|2007|09|30}}
| election = [[Maratha Light Infantry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 22
| image = General Deepak Kapoor.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Deepak Kapoor]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Kapoor, Deepak
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1948
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 October 2007
| term_end = 31 March 2010
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|10|01|2010|03|31}}
| election = [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 23
| image = VK Singh.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Vijay Kumar Singh]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Vijay Kumar
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1950
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 April 2010
| term_end = 31 May 2012
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2010|04|01|2012|05|31}}
| election = [[Rajput Regiment]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 24
| image = Gen Bikram Singh.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Bikram Singh (general)|Bikram Singh]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Bikram
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1952
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 June 2012
| term_end = 31 July 2014
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2012|06|01|2014|07|31}}
| election = [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 25
| image = General Dalbir Singh official photo.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Dalbir Singh Suhag]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Singh, Dalbir
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1954
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 August 2014
| term_end = 31 December 2016
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|08|01|2016|12|31}}
| election = [[5 Gorkha Rifles]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 26
| image = Bipin Rawat (CDS).jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Bipin Rawat]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|YSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Rawat, Bipin
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1958
| died_year =2021
| term_start = 31 December 2016
| term_end = 31 December 2019
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2016|12|31|2019|12|31}}
| election = [[11 Gorkha Rifles]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 27
| image = General Manoj Mukund Naravane PVSM AVSM SM VSM ADC (1).jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort = Naravane, Manoj Mukund
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1960
| died_year =
| term_start = 31 December 2019
| term_end = 30 April 2022
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|12|31|2022|04|30}}
| election = [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 28
| image = Gen Manoj Pandey.jpg
| military_rank = [[General (India)|General]]
| officeholder = [[Manoj Pande]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM|ADC}}
| officeholder_sort =
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1962
| died_year =
| term_start = 30 April 2022
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2022|4|30}}
| election = [[Bombay Engineer Group|Bombay Sappers]]
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

==See also==
{{commons cat|Chief of the Army Staff (India)}}
* [[Commander-in-Chief, India]]
* [[Chief of the General Staff (India)|Chief of the General Staff]]
* [[Field marshal (India)|Field Marshal of the Indian Army]]
* [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]]
* [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
* [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]]
* [[Vice Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Army Staff]]
* [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]
* [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
* [[List of serving generals of the Indian Army]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |title=Thimayya: an amazing life |last=Khanduri |first=Chandra B. |year=2006 |publisher=Knowledge World |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-87966-36-4 |pages=394 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWXfAAAAMAAJ |access-date=30 July 2010}}

{{Chief of the Army Staff (India)}}
{{Military of India}}
{{Indian Army}}
{{Chief of the army by country}}

[[Category:Chiefs of Army Staff (India)|*C]]
[[Category:Army chiefs of staff|India]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]
[[Category:Indian Army appointments]]