Lt Gen Mukund Naravane will be taking over as the Chief of Army Staff after incumbent Army Chief General Bipin Rawat takes over as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Tuesday. He was commissioned in the 7th battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry

New Delhi: With incumbent Army Chief General Bipin Rawat appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen Mukund Naravane will be taking over as the 28th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army on December 31. Naravane, who is currently the Vice Chief of Army Staff, was prior to this, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Army's Eastern Command. 

In his career spanning over 37 years, Naravane has held various staff and command positions in the field and highly active counter-insurgency environments of Jammu and Kashmir. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Naravane has also commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir and an infantry brigade in the northeast.

Commissioned in the 7th battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry, Naravane has been decorated with Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. 

Rawat has been appointed as the CDS with effect from December 31. The Defence Ministry, on Saturday, amended the rules to increase the retirement age of CDS to 65. Rawat will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on matters related to the three services.