M. M. Naravane

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M. M. Naravane


Official portrait, 2020

Office Acting Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Office 28th Chief of the Army Staff
Office 40th Vice Chief of the Army Staff
Office General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
Office General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Army Training Command
Term start 15 December 2021
Term end 30 April 2022
Predecessor Bipin Rawat
Successor Anil Chauhan
Predecessor Bipin Rawat
Successor Manoj Pande



Born 1960-04-22 (age 66)[1]
Born Pune, Bombay State, India






Spouse Veena Naravane





General Manoj Mukund NaravaneTemplate:Efn Template:Post-nominals (born 22 April 1960) is a retired Indian Army officer who served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS),[2] as well as the temporary Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 15 December 2021 until his superannuation on 30 April 2022.[3][4]

He took over as COAS from General Bipin Rawat on 31 December 2019. Prior to his appointment as the COAS, the general officer served as the 40th Vice Chief of Army Staff[5] of the Indian Army, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command[6] and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command.[7] He also served as General Officer Commanding II Corps and also as General Officer Commanding Delhi Area.

Early life and education

Manoj Mukund Naravane was born on 22 April 1960 in Pune, Bombay State, nine days before the formation of Maharashtra, to Chitpavan Brahmin parents.[8][9][10][11] His father, Mukund Naravane, is a former officer in the Indian Air Force who retired in the rank of wing commander and his mother Sudha was an announcer with the All India Radio.[12] He completed his schooling at the Jnana Prabodhini Prashala in Pune.[13]

He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He also holds a master's degree in Defence Studies from University of Madras, Chennai and an M.Phil. in Defence and Management Studies from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore and he is also pursuing PhD in defence and strategic studies from Punjabi University, Patiala.[14] Naravane has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Army War College, Mhow.[15][16]

Military career

Naravane on Independence Day in Delhi, August 15, 2017
File:CDS General Bipin Rawat with COAS General Manoj Mukund Naravane, CNS Admiral Karambir Singh and CAS Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria after the ceremonial Guard of Honour, in New Delhi on January 01, 2020.jpg
Bipin Rawat, Naravane (left), Karambir Singh and R. K. S. Bhadauria in 2020

Gen Naravane was commissioned into 7th battalion The Sikh Light Infantry in June 1980. He has commanded the 2nd Battalion (SikhLi) of Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the 106 Infantry brigade. He has also commanded the Assam Rifles as Inspector General (North) in Kohima, Nagaland. He has served in Counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India, as well as the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan.[17] The general officer's staff assignments include tenures as a brigade major of an Infantry Brigade, Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster General (AA&QMG) of Headquarters Establishment No. 22. He has also served as the Military attaché to Myanmar at Yangon.[18][19][20]

File:Manoj Mukund Naravane.jpg
Naravane during a virtual meeting

In addition, he served in an instructional appointment at the Army War College, Mhow as Directing Staff in the Higher Command Wing and two tenures at the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters of Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.[21]

File:Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Army Commander Eastern Command, visited MISA Camp.jpg
Naravane (front, left) as GOC-in-C Eastern Command in 2019. General Manoj Pande, who succeeded Naravane as Chief of Army Staff, is also seen (front, right).

On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant general, he commanded the Ambala-based Kharga Strike Corps and served as the general officer commanding (GOC) Delhi Area. As GOC Delhi Area, he commanded the 2017 Republic Day Parade.[22][23]

After being promoted to Army Commander grade, Gen Naravane served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Army Training Command from 1 December 2017 to 30 September 2018. Later, he also served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command from 1 October 2018 to 31 August 2019, succeeding Lt Gen Abhay Krishna.[6][24][16][15]

On 1 September 2019, he took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff[5] when Lt Gen Devraj Anbu retired on 31 August, and became the senior-most serving general after Bipin Rawat.[25] On 16 December 2019 (Vijay Diwas) he was announced as the successor of Rawat as COAS on 31 December 2019.[26][27] Gen Naravane is the 3rd general from the Sikh Light Infantry to become Chief of the Army Staff, the others were Ved Prakash Malik the 18th COAS and Bikram Singh the 25th COAS.[28]

Personal life

He is from Pune, Maharashtra. He paints, practices yoga, and gardens, his wife, Veena Naravane, is a teacher and former president of Army Wives Welfare Association. They have two daughters.[15]

After retirement from service, he published several books. His memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, was scheduled for publication in 2024 but delayed due to reviewing process by the Ministry of Defence.[29][30] His military thriller novel The Cantonment Conspiracy about two National Defence Academy officers investigating a case of assault and murder in a garrison was published in 2025.[31]

Honours and decorations

He has received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2017), Sena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal (2015), and the COAS commendation card for his service.[32][33][15][34] He was also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Sikh Light Infantry.

File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Template:Ribbon devices
Template:Ribbon devices Template:Ribbon devices Template:Ribbon devices
Template:Ribbon devices Template:Ribbon devices Template:Ribbon devices File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg
File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Samanya Seva Medal

Special Service Medal

Operation Parakram Medal

Sainya Seva Medal

Videsh Seva Medal

50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
File:Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Second Lieutenant Indian Army 7 June 1980[35]
File:Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Indian Army 7 June 1982[36]
File:Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain Indian Army 7 June 1985[37]
File:Major of the Indian Army.svg Major Indian Army 7 June 1991[38]
File:Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 31 December 2002[39]
File:Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel Indian Army 1 February 2005[40]
File:Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg Brigadier Indian Army 19 July 2010 (substantive, seniority from 13 January 2008)[41]
File:Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major General Indian Army 1 January 2013 (substantive, seniority from 7 April 2011)[42]
File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-General Indian Army 10 November 2015 (substantive)[43]
File:General of the Indian Army.svg General
(COAS)		 Indian Army 1 January 2020[44]

See also

  • Four Stars of Destiny{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Penguin Random House India Pvt. Limited(May 2024). ISBN 978-0-670-09975-7[45]

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

  1. ↑ Lt Gen Manoj Naravane to succeed Gen Bipin Rawat as next army chief. Hindustan Times(16 December 2019).
  2. ↑ Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane to be next Army Chief. The Hindu(2019-12-16). Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  3. ↑ Old system till new CDS appointed: Gen Naravane as senior-most service chief fills in for Gen Bipin Rawat. India Today(16 December 2021). Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  4. ↑ General Manoj Naravane retires as Army chief, Prez Kovind, Rajnath bid him adieu. Hindustan Times(2022-04-30). Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lt Gen MM Naravane assumes appointment of VCOAS. pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane takes over as GOC-in-C of Indian Army's Eastern Command. The New Indian Express(October 2018).
  7. ↑ Lt Gen Naravane takes over as ARTRAC chief. The Tribune(1 December 2017). Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  8. ↑ Interesting facts about Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane who is becoming the new army chief. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  9. ↑ महाराष्ट्राचे सुपूत्र मनोज नरवणे होणार लष्करप्रमुख, टीम, एबीपी माझा वेब. marathi.abplive.com(16 December 2019).
  10. ↑ General Naravane Steps Into Late CDS Rawat's Role, Sanil, Sharan. Man's World India(2021-12-16). Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  11. ↑ 10 Remarkable Moments in General Manoj Mukund Naravane's Life(2025-11-12). Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  12. ↑ Pune: Studious and humble, recall next Army chief's classmates and teacher. The Times of India(17 December 2019).
  13. ↑ Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane set to be next Army Chief. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  14. ↑ The hunt for India's new army chief is on-- here's a profile of the senior-most contender. Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane takes over Gen officer Commanding-in-chief of ARTRAC.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lt Gen Naravane takes over as ARTRAC chief.
  17. ↑ Lt Gen M.M. Naravane appointed as Chief of Army Staff(2019-12-17).
  18. ↑ Lt Gen Naravane takes over as ARTRAC chief.
  19. ↑ Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane takes over Gen officer Commanding-in-chief of ARTRAC.
  20. ↑ In break from past, Lt Gen doesn't stand behind Prime Minister during speech. The Indian Express(2017-08-16). Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  21. ↑ Lt Gen M.M. Naravane appointed as Chief of Army Staff. pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  22. ↑ #RepublicDay 2017 Parade is commanded by Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane,Sena Medal,Vishisht Seva Medal General Officer Commanding,Delhi Areapic.twitter.com/LBSSwAOQho, News18. @CNNnews18(2017-01-25). Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  23. ↑ Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  24. ↑ Lt Gen Naravane relinquishes charge of Eastern Command, to take over as VCOAS(2019-08-31). Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  25. ↑ Naravane appointed as new Vice Chief of Indian Army, four army commanders appointed. The Economic Times(2019-07-23). Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  26. ↑ Lt Gen MM Naravane to be next Army Chief. www.aninews.in. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  27. ↑ Lt Gen MM Naravane assumes appointment of VCOAS. Press Information Bureau, Government of India(2019-09-01).
  28. ↑ Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane to be next Army Chief. The Hindu(2019-12-16).
  29. ↑ General Naravane and Four Stars of Destiny: Row over former Indian army chief's unpublished memoir. BBC(5 February 2026). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  30. ↑ Not just Naravane: 19-yr-old case shadows ex-officer's book on R&AW 'secrets'. The Indian Express(6 February 2026). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  31. ↑ https://www.economictimes.com/news/new-updates/ex-indian-army-chief-general-mm-naravane-who-led-during-galwan-clash-unveils-his-military-murder-thriller-the-cantonment-conspiracy/articleshow/118833842.cms
  32. ↑ Press Information Bureau. pib.nic.in.
  33. ↑ Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  34. ↑ Ashok Chakra Awarded to NK Neeraj Kumar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles (Posthumous) 374 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced. pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  35. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(16 May 1981).
  36. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(11 December 1982).
  37. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(7 June 1986).
  38. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(25 April 1992).
  39. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(31 July 2004).
  40. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(25 March 2006).
  41. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(5 May 2012).
  42. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(22 March 2014).
  43. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(20 February 2016).
  44. ↑ Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)(16 April 2022).
  45. ↑ 'Here's what Gen Naravane wrote on PM': Rahul flashes copy of ex-army chief's book that 'govt said doesn't exist'. Hindustan Times(4 February 2026). Retrieved 7 February 2026.

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