Extending Tenure of Current Army Chief | 28 May 2024

Source: HT

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), headed by the Prime Minister, has granted a rare one-month extension in service to the current Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Manoj Pande.

This is only the second such extension granted in over five decades, the first being to General GG Bewoor, who succeeded Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw as army chief in 1973.
The ACC approved the extension of current COAS service for one month beyond his normal under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954 which deals with retaining officers on the grounds of “exigencies of services”, with the final decision resting with the Central Government.
The COAS is the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Army, appointed by the ACC.
- The COAS serves as the head of the army and advises the Defence Ministry on army-related matters and also serves as the key military advisor to the President of India.
The COAS retires after three years of appointment or at the age of 62, whichever comes first.