View source for Director General of the Assam Rifles

{{Short description|Highest-ranking official of the CAPF Assam Rifles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Director General of the Assam Rifles (DGAR)
| flag = 
| flagborder = 
| flagsize = 
| insignia = 
| insigniaborder = 
| insigniasize = 
| image = Lt General Vikas Lakhera AVSM SM.jpg
| imagesize = 190px
| incumbent = [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Vikas Lakhera]], {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=80%|AVSM|SM|}}
| incumbentsince = 1 August 2024
| formation = {{start date and age|1947}}
| first = H. G. Bartly, [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Indian Imperial Police|IP]]
| website = [https://www.assamrifles.gov.in/newwindow.html?2030 Official Website]
}}
The '''Director General of the Assam Rifles''' ('''DGAR''') is the head of the [[Assam Rifles]]. The DGAR has their office in the Headquarters DGAR at [[Shillong]]. Appointed by the Government of India, the DGAR reports to the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]]. The Director General is an [[Indian Army]] Officer of the rank of [[Lieutenant General]] and is assisted by three Inspector Generals, each holding the rank of [[Major General]], and other senior officers heading various staff appointments. The Additional Director General of the Assam Rifles who is a [[Major General]] - ranked officer serves as the [[Second-in-command]] to the Director General.<ref>{{cite web |title=असम राइफल्स में आपका स्वागत है |url=https://www.assamrifles.gov.in/newwindow.html?2030 |website=assamrifles.gov.in}}</ref> The current Director General, [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Vikas Lakhera]] is the 22nd DGAR.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL VIKAS LAKHERA, AVSM, SM, TOOK OVER AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ASSAM RIFLES - The Assam Rifles Twitter |url=https://x.com/official_dgar/status/1818941986570985821?t=GobEutFwaahhXzPe3O5P6g&s=19|access-date=2024-08-01 |website=X (formerly twitter)|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The first Director General post-Independence was Mr HG Bartly, [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Indian Imperial Police|IP]] who assumed the appointment on 17 September 1947. The first Indian Director General was [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] Sidhiman Rai, [[Military Cross|MC]] appointed on 15 August 1948.
The rank of officers holding the appointment of [[Director General]] Assam Rifles has been consistently upgraded from [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] to [[Brigadier]] ([[One-star rank|One star]] General) to [[Major General]] ([[Two-star rank|Two star]] General) to [[Lieutenant General]] ([[Three-star rank|Three star]] General) now. Indian Army officers on deputation have been holding the appointment of Director General Assam Rifles until date.

==List of directors general==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No
! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Rank
! scope="col" style="width: 350px;" | Name
! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Appointment date
! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Left office
! scope="col" style="width: 25px;" | References
|-
| 1 || - || H. G. Bartly, [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Indian Imperial Police|IP]] || 17 Sep 1947 || 14 Aug 1948 || <ref>{{cite book |title=Paramilitary forces of India |year=2008 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |isbn=978-8178357089 |page=99}}</ref>
|-
| 2 || [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] || Sidhiman Rai, [[Military Cross|MC]] || 15 Aug 1948 || 10 Dec 1949 || <ref>{{cite web |title=From private militia to army-like force |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/from-private-militia-to-army-like-force/story-CugmhUm5qDsgY6WPg0MavN.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=16 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 3 || [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] || R. N. D. Frier, [[Military Cross|MC]] ||16 Dec 1949 || 29 Feb 1952 || 
|-
| 4 || [[Brigadier]] || K. Bhagwati Singh, [[AVSM]] || 1 Mar 1952 || 4 May 1954 || 
|-
| 5 || [[Brigadier]] || K. S. Katoch, [[Military Cross|MC]] || 5 May 1954 || 29 Aug 1955 || 
|-
| 6 || [[Brigadier]] || Harbhajan Singh || 7 Sep 1955 || 30 Nov 1957 || 
|-
| 7 || rowspan="5" | [[Major general (India)|Major General]]|| A. S. Guraya || 1 Feb 1958 || 14 Dec 1965 || 
|-
| 8 || S. N. Bhatia || 15 Dec 1965 || 15 Feb 1968 || 
|-
| 9 || V. B. Tuli || 20 Feb 1968 || 19 May 1972 || 
|-
| 10 || M. G. Hazari, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]] || 30 Mar 1973 || 29 Feb 1976 || 
|-
| 11 || K. Chiman Singh, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]] || 1 Mar 1976 || 25 Jun 1979 || 
|-
| 12 || rowspan="22" | [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]]|| Sushil Kumar, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]] || 1 Sep 1979 || 2 Dec 1981 || <ref>{{cite book |title=Jawan to general |isbn=978-8170494843 |last1=Kumar |first1=Sushil |year=2014 |publisher=Manas Publications }}</ref>
|-
| 13 || J. K. Puri, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]] || 2 Dec 1981 || 29 Nov 1983 || 
|-
| 14 || P. E. Menon, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]] || 30 Nov 1983 || 31 May 1987 || 
|-
| 15 || M. K. Lahiri, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]] || 1 Jun 1987 || 21 Dec 1989 || 
|-
| 16 || R. V. Kulkarni, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal|UYSM]], [[AVSM]] || 22 Feb 1990 || 9 Mar 1992 || 
|-
| 17 || [[Ved Prakash Airy|V. P. Airy]], [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] || 18 Mar 1992 || 31 Mar 1993 |||<ref>{{cite web |title=Rediff On The NeT Special: Major General Ashok K Mehta traces the background leading to Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat's dismissal last month |url=https://m.rediff.com/news/1999/jan/16bhag3.htm |website=m.rediff.com}}</ref>
|-
| 18 || Y. M. Bammi, [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]] || 15 Jul 1993 || 30 Apr 1995 || <ref>{{cite book |title=Democracies and small wars |year=2003 |publisher=F. Cass |isbn=9780714684239 |page=98}}</ref>
|-
| 19 || [[T. P. S. Rawat]], [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] || 19 May 1995  || 30 Apr 1998 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Members : Lok Sabha |url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4245&lastls=14 |website=164.100.47.194}}</ref>
|-
| 20 || Gurpreet Singh, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]] || 1 May 1998 || 18 Jan 2001 || 
|-
| 21 || G. K. Duggal, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] || 19 Jan 2001 || 18 Jan 2003 || <ref>{{cite web |title=North East Diary |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/north-east-diary/cid/1545545 |website=telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 22 || H. S. Kanwar, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] || 1 Mar 2003 || 30 Apr 2004 || <ref>{{cite web |title=North East Diary |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/north-east-diary/cid/1545545 |website=telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 23 || [[Bhupinder Singh Thakur|Bhopinder Singh]], [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] || 1 May 2004 || 30 Jun 2006 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Army bids farewell to Lt Gen Singh |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/30/indian-army-bids-farewell-to-lt-gen-bhopinder-singh-1151656433.html |website=oneindia.com |language=en |date=30 June 2006}}</ref>
|-
| 24 || Paramjit Singh, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] || 6 Jul 2006 || 31 May 2008 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh new DGAR : 07th jul06 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=12..070706.jul06 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Assam Rifles gets new Director General |url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/assam-rifles-gets-new-director-general_447943.html |website=Zee News |language=en |date=10 June 2008}}</ref>
|-
| 25 || K. S. Yadava, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] || 9 Jun 2008 || 30 Sep 2010 || <ref>{{cite news |title=Oldest paramilitary force in the country, Assam Rifles has deployed its first ever field intelligence unit in the North East. "It is expected to mature and be fully operational in about six month's time," outgoing DG Lt Gen KS Yadava said here today. The intelligence unit is an officer-oriented organization comprising about 200 men. Assam Rifles is the lead intelligence unit along the Myanmar border, and earlier inputs were collected through an ad hoc arrangement. The force is also planning to raise two commando battalions. - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Oldest-paramilitary-force-in-the-country-Assam-Rifles-has-deployed-its-first-ever-field-intelligence-unit-in-the-North-East-It-is-expected-to-mature-and-be-fully-operational-in-about-six-months-time-outgoing-DG-Lt-Gen-KS-Yadava-said-here-today-The-intelligence-unit-is-an-officer-oriented-organization-comprising-about-200-men-Assam-Rifles-is-the-lead-intelligence-unit-along-the-Myanmar-border-and-earlier-inputs-were-collected-through-an-ad-hoc-arrangement-The-force-is-also-planning-to-raise-two-commando-battalions-/articleshow/6644300.cms |website=The Times of India|date=28 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Assam Tribune Online |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2110/oth04 |website=assamtribune.com}}</ref>
|-
| 26 || Rameshwar Roy, UVSM, [[AVSM]], [[Yudh Seva Medal|YSM]] || 6 Dec 2010 || 22 Feb 2012 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Rameshwar Roy is new Assam Rifles chief |url=https://www.sify.com/news/lt-gen-rameshwar-roy-is-new-assam-rifles-chief-news-national-kmiqEreebhfsi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113233923/https://www.sify.com/news/lt-gen-rameshwar-roy-is-new-assam-rifles-chief-news-national-kmiqEreebhfsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-11-13 |website=[[Sify]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lieutenant General Rameshwar Roy is new Assam Rifles DG |url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lieutenant-general-rameshwar-roy-is-new-assam-rifles-dg_673299.html |website=Zee News |language=en |date=8 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 27 || Ranbir Singh, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]] || 27 Aug 2012 || 31 Mar 2014 || <ref>{{cite web |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Lt Gen Ranbir Singh appointed new DG of Assam Rifles |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/lt-gen-ranbir-singh-appointed-new-dg-of-assam-rifles-112082400479_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=24 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LT. Gen. Ranbir Singh to be New DG Assam Rifles |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=86734 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
| 28 || R. K. Rana, [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] || 26 May 2014 || 31 Aug 2015 || <ref>{{cite web |date=27 May 2014 |title=Lt Gen R K Rana new Assam Rifles DG {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lt-Gen-R-K-Rana-new-Assam-Rifles-DG/articleshow/35625146.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 29 || H. J. S. Sachdev, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]] || 1 Sep 2015 || 30 Sep 2016 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Assam Rifles conducts rally for ex-servicemen in Dimapur |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/assam-rifles-conducts-rally-for-ex-servicemen-in-dimapur-115112500394_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=25 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 30 || Shokin Chauhan, [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Yudh Seva Medal|YSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]|| 12 Dec 2016 || 31 Mar 2018|| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Bureau |first1=News Mobile State |title=Lt. Gen Shokin Chauhan takes over as DG Assam Rifles {{!}} Newsmobile |url=http://newsmobile.in/articles/2016/12/14/lt-gen-shokin-chauhan-takes-over-as-dg-assam-rifles/}}</ref>
|-
| 31 || [[Sukhdeep Sangwan]], [[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]][[Medal Bar|**]] || 4 May 2018 || 31 May 2021 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan takes over as DG of Assam Rifles |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/lt-gen-sukhdeep-sangwan-takes-dg-assam-rifles.html |website=NORTHEAST NOW|date=14 May 2018 }}</ref>
|-
| 32 ||[[Pradeep Chandran Nair]], [[AVSM]], [[Yudh Seva Medal|YSM]]|| 1 June 2021 || 31 July 2024 || <ref>{{cite tweet |author=The Assam Rifles |author-link=The Assam Rifles |user=official_dgar |number=1399619500178173952 |date=1 June 2021 |title=Lieutenant General Pradeep Chandran Nair, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal assumed the appointment of Director General Assam Rifles on 01 Jun 21. He takes over as the 21st Director General of the Force popularly known as Sentinels of the North East.@PIBHomeAffairs @adgpi https://t.co/uSZxkkbQaS |language=en |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215358/https://twitter.com/official_dgar/status/1399619500178173952 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 33 ||[[Vikas Lakhera]], [[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]]|| 1 August 2024 || ''Incumbent''|| <ref>{{Cite web |title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL VIKAS LAKHERA, AVSM, SM, TOOK OVER AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ASSAM RIFLES - The Assam Rifles Twitter |url=https://x.com/official_dgar/status/1818941986570985821?t=GobEutFwaahhXzPe3O5P6g&s=19|access-date=2024-08-01 |website=X (formerly twitter)|language=en}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[Assam Rifles]]
* [[Special Frontier Force]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Indian Army]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]