NEW DELHI – Lieutenant General BS Raju will take over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on May 1, the Indian Army said in a statement here.
Army Chief General MM Naravane and all ranks of Indian Army congratulated him on his appointment.
An alumnus of Sainik School Bijapur and National Defence Academy, he was commissioned in the JAT Regiment on December 15, 1984.
He commanded his Battalion during OP PARAKRAM in the Western Theatre and in Jammu & Kashmir. He also holds the distinction of commanding the Uri brigade along the Line of Control, a Counter Insurgency Force and the Chinar Corps in Kashmir Valley. The General Officer also served as the Commandant, Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan.
During his career spanning 38 years, he has held many important regimental, staff and instructional appointments in the Army Head Quarters and in field formations. He has served as Colonel Military Secretary Legal in Military Secretary branch, Brigadier General Staff of the operationally active White Knight Corps, Deputy Director General Military Operations and Director General Staff Duties amid other roles.
Prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, he was serving as the Director General Military Operations during the standoff on the LAC.
A qualified helicopter pilot having carried out operational flying in Somalia, as part of UNOSOM II, he is also the Colonel of the JAT Regiment.
Lt Gen Raju has attended NDC at Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. He also holds a distinguished Master’s programme degree in Counter Terrorism at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, United States.
He has been awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal for his service.
