The most senior infantry officer Gen VK Singh, was on Wednesday handed over charge of the Indian Army, the world?s second largest, by outgoing chief Gen Deepak Kapoor.
Though he will formally assume office from Thursday, Singh, the first trained commando to take over as Army chief, has inherited the long-delayed artillery modernisation programme that has significantly handicapped the forces? firepower capabilities as well as the many strategic and operational challenges ahead.
The 26th chief will be leading the over 1.13 million personnel-strong Army for over two years. The ministry of defence had on January 23 issued the order appointing Singh for the top post after the Cabinet Committee on Appointments cleared his name a day earlier.
The new chief will have to take a call on the number of indigenous main battle tanks (MBT) ?Arjun? it wishes to purchase. The Indian Army so far has ordered 124 MBTs.
Also, ongoing projects like arming the indigenous Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) ?Dhruv?, replacing its Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, procuring intermediate-range helicopters and short- and medium-range air defence systems, as also improving the ability of soldiers to fight at night with night-vision sights and thermal imaging systems for tanks have to be taken care of by the new chief.
A third generation officer, Singh was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 14, 1970 and during his career spanning nearly 40 years has served in a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments.