Lt Gen CP Mohanty Takes Charge As Vice-Chief Of Army Staff

New Delhi: Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty, on Monday took charge as the 42nd Vice Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding Lt General SK Saini who superannuated on January 31 after completing four decades of illustrious career in the Army.

Mohanty is the first Odia officer to be selected for the coveted post, which is next in rank to the Chief of Army Staff in the Indian Army.

Lt Gen CP Mohanty #VCOAS also reviewed Guard of Honour today at the South Block Lawns. (2/2)#IndianArmy#StrongAndCapable pic.twitter.com/U4C04Oqz6x

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) February 1, 2021

A native of Jayabada village in Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha, Lt Gen CP Mohanty is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Mohanty was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 12, 1982.

In a career spanning 39 years, the General officer served across a wide spectrum of conflicts and terrain profiles and tenanted a host of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He commanded a battalion on the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir and later in the North East.

He has the unique distinction of commanding two brigades: first on the Line of Actual Control and later on, the multinational UN Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He later commanded the Rangiya-based Division in a counter-insurgency environment and the Sikkim based Trishakti Corps immediately after the Doklam incident. The General officer also has a unique distinction of commanding two Administrative formations as well: the Jodhpur Sub Area as a Major General and Uttar Bharat Area as a Lieutenant General.

An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Higher Defence Management Course Secunderabad and the National Defence College New Delhi, the General Officer’s staff and instructional assignments include an instructional tenure at NDA, Brigade Major of an Armoured Brigade, Military Advisor in Seychelles, Colonel Military Secretary (Selection) in the MS Branch, Brigadier General Staff (Operations) of a Corps in the Eastern Theatre and Director General, Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement.

Mohanty has been honoured with Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal (SM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his outstanding services.

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