Govt names Lt Gen Bikram Singh as next Army Chief

After a year of uncertainty over the succession in the Indian Army, the government on Saturday announced Lt Gen Bikram Singh as the next Chief of Army Staff. The announcement done three months prior to General VK Singh's retirement, as against the general practice of appointing Chief two months in advance, indicates the schism between the defence establishment and the Army Chief.

Lt Gen Bikram Singh (Photo by Sitanshu Kar, DPR)

Despite the ostentatious claims from both sides, the long-winding age battle that saw insinuations flying against both General VK Singh's predecessors and successors, has resulted in rancour between the defence ministry and the Army head.

The announcement was done as all the senior defence ministry functionaries including the Defence Minister and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma came to the ministry to finalise the naming of the next Army Chief.

The announcement has put an end to the ugly age row that saw incumbent Army Chief dragging the government to the court contending that he was a year younger than what has been determined  by the Defence Ministry.

Here is the press release issued by the Defence Ministry

Lt Gen Bikram Singh  will be the next Chief of Army Staff

New Delhi: Phalguna 13, 1933

Friday, March 03, 2012

The Eastern Army Commander, Lt Gen Bikram Singh, PVSM,UYSM,AVSM,SM,VSM,ADC has been designated as the next Chief of Army Staff, in the rank of General, with effect from the afternoon of 31 May 2012. He will succeed the present COAS, General VK Singh, PVSM,AVSM,YSM,ADC, who retires from the service on 31 May 2012.

Lt Gen Bikram Singh was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment on 31 March 1972.

During his long and distinguished career, spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a variety of Command and Staff appointments. He has commanded a Corps in the Northern Command. The General had served as Deputy Force Commander of a multi-nation UN Peace Keeping Mission in Congo. He had also served as UN Observer in Nicaragua and El Salvador during the early 90s.

Lt Gen Bikram Singh has studied with distinction at the Defence Services Staff College, the Army War College and the US Army War College, Pennsylvania. He has also done M.Phil in Defence Management from the Indore University.

He is a recipient of PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM and VSM Awards. He is also one of the Honorary ADCs of the President of India.

He is married to Mrs Surjeet Kaur, housewife and the couple have two sons.