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Chief of the Army Staff (Nepal)

(Redirected from Chief of Army Staff (Nepal))
For head of Nepalese Army before COAS, see Chief of the Nepalese Army.

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) (Nepali: नेपालको प्रधानसेनापति), informally known as Chief Sa'ab (Nepali: चिफ सा'ब), is the chief commander of the Nepalese Army.

Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepal Army
प्रधानसेनापति
Emblem of Chief of the Army Staff of Nepal
Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff
Incumbent
General Ashok Raj Sigdel
since 9 September 2024
Ministry of Defence
AbbreviationCOAS
Reports toPrime Minister of Nepal
Ministry of Defence
SeatBhadrakali, Kathmandu, Nepal
NominatorGovernment of Nepal
AppointerPresident of Nepal
Term length3 years or up to 61 years of age[1]
PrecursorCommander-in-Chief of Nepal Army
Formation15 May 1979; 45 years ago (1979-05-15)
First holderGeneral Singha Pratap Shah
SuccessionOn basis of seniority, subjected to the decision of the Prime Minister of Nepal.
Unofficial namesArmy Chief
Chief Sa'ab
DeputyVice Chief of Army Staff
WebsiteOfficial website

The Chief of Army Staff is the Chief of the Nepalese Army and reports to the Ministry of Defense. The appointment is constitutionally subjected to be for three years or up to 61 years of age whichever is earlier. The seat of Chief of Army Staff is in Bhadrakali, Kathmandu. The current Chief of Army Staff is General Ashok Raj Sigdel, since 9 September 2024. The Chief of Army Staff also holds the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army.[2]

History

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The Kajis of Gorkha Kingdom (later Kingdom of Nepal) carried the functions of army chief. In the 19th century, Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa was the first person to use Commander-in-Chief as the title of army chief.[3] During the Rana dynasty, the post of army chief was hereditary. In 1979, General Singha Bahadur Basnyat was raised with the title of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) instead of Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C). Since then, COAS is the title of army chief of Nepalese Army. Since 1950, it has been tradition for the President of India to award the chief of the Nepalese Army with the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army.[4]

Appointment

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As per Section 8 of Army Act (2063) of Nepal, the Chief of Army Staff is appointed by the President of Nepal on the recommendation of Council of Ministers of Nepal.[5] The Chief of Army Staff is the head of the Nepalese military. As per Section 10 of the same, the appointment is subjected to be for three years or up to 61 years whichever is earlier.[5] As per Section 8(3) of Nepal Army Act (2063), in case of leave by current COAS, the President of Nepal can appoint the seniormost officer as the acting Chief of Army Staff. When General Rajendra Chhetri left for 15 days tour on 30 June 2017 to United States, Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Baldev Raj Mahat was appointed Acting Chief of the Army Staff as per section 8(3).[6] Similarly, then CGS Lt. Gen. Purna Chandra Thapa was appointed as the acting Chief of Army Staff on 8 August 2018 at the traditional last month leave of General Chhetri.[7]

Powers, duties and responsibilities

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As per Section 9(1) of Army Act (2063) of Nepal, the Chief of Army Staff shall manage the armed forces under the instructions of the Government of Nepal and according to prevailing laws and acts. As per Section 9(2), the COAS shall submit an annual report on the management of Nepalese armed forces to the Government of Nepal on the Baisakh month of Hindu calendar.[5]

Removal

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As per Section 11 (1 & 2) of the Army Act, COAS is normally retired on completion of 3 years or up to age of 61 years of the person, whichever is earlier. However, as per the section 11(3) of the same, the COAS can be removed by the President of Nepal if deemed necessary by Government of Nepal on the recommendation of Council of Ministers of Nepal.[5]

Chief of the Army Staff

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See also: Chief of the Nepalese Army
No. Portrait Chief of Army Staff Took office Left office Time in office Unit of Commission Ref.
1Shah, Singha PratapGeneral
Singha Pratap Shah OGDB, OTSP		15 May 197915 May 19834 years, 0 days––
2Rana, Arjun NarsinghGeneral
Arjun Narsingh Rana OGDB, OTSP		15 May 198315 May 19874 years, 0 days––
3Rana, Satchit Shamsher Jang BahadurGeneral
Satchit Rana OGDB, OTSP
(1934–2007)		15 May 198715 May 19914 years, 0 daysShreenath Battalion–
4Rana, Gadul Shamsher Jang BahadurGeneral
Gadul Shamsher JB Rana OGDB, OTSP
(1936–2016)		15 May 19914 May 19953 years, 354 days–[8]
5Thapa, Dharmapal BarsinghGeneral
Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa OGDB, OTSP
(1936–2024)		15 May 199515 May 19994 years, 0 days––
6Rana, Prajwalla Shamsher Jang BahadurGeneral
Prajwalla Shamsher JB Rana OGDB, OTSP		19 May 19999 September 20023 years, 113 days––
7Thapa, Pyar JungGeneral
Pyar Jung Thapa		10 September 20029 September 20063 years, 364 days––
8Katawal, RookmangudGeneral
Rookmangad Katawal
(born 1948)		9 September 20069 September 20093 years, 0 daysShreenath Battalion–
9Gurung, Chhatra Man SinghGeneral
Chhatra Man Singh Gurung
(born 1952)		9 September 20095 September 20122 years, 362 daysShreenath Battalion–
10Rana, Gaurav Shumsher JBGeneral
Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana
(born 1955)		6 September 201210 September 20153 years, 4 daysPurano Gorakh Battalion[9]
11Chhetri, RajendraGeneral
Rajendra Chhetri
(born 1960)		10 September 20158 September 20182 years, 363 daysRajdal Battalion[7]
12Thapa, Purna ChandraGeneral
Purna Chandra Thapa
(born 1960)		9 September 20188 September 20212 years, 364 daysGorakh Bahadur Battalion[1][10]
[11]
13Sharma, PrabhuGeneral
Prabhu Ram Sharma
(born 1964)		9 September 20218 September 20242 years, 365 daysPurano Gorakh Battalion[12][13][14][15]
14Sigdel, Ashok RajGeneral
Ashok Raj Sigdel
(born 1967)		9 September 2024Incumbent77 daysDevidutta Battalion[16]


Chief of General Staff

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Chief of General Staff (CGS) was the deputy position of the Chief of Army Staff. The CGS was generally ranked as Lieutenant General (three star General). The chief of general staff was assigned to look after intelligence and operations in the Army.[17] Now, the Vice Chief of Army Staff is the deputy position of the Chief of Army Staff.

No. Portrait Chief of General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Unit of Commission Ref.
–Chhetri, RajendraGeneral
Rajendra Chhetri
(born 1960)		February 2015July 20155 monthsRajdal Battalion[17]
–Mahat, Baldev RajLieutenant General
Baldev Raj Mahat		July 20154 November 20172 years, 4 months–[17][18]
–Thapa, Purna ChandraGeneral
Purna Chandra Thapa
(born 1960)		4 November 20178 August 2018277 daysGorakh Bahadur Battalion[7][18][19]
–Kunwar, Hemanta RajLieutenant General
Hemanta Raj Kunwar		16 September 201823 April 2019219 daysNaya Gorakh Battalion[20][21][22]
40Giri, SaradLieutenant General
Sarad Giri		23 April 201920 June 20201 year, 58 daysRajdal Battalion[22][23]
-Sharma, Prabhu RamLieutenant General
Prabhu Ram Sharma
(born 1964)		20209 August 2021-Purano Gorakh Battalion[15][23]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Thapa likely to be appointed Nepali Army chief". thehimalayantimes.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Nepal army chief conferred honorary rank of General in India". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  3. ^ Adhikari 2015, p. 155.
  4. ^ "President confers honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' on Nepal Army Chief". Printline Media. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Military act 2063" (PDF). www.nepalarmy.mil.np.
  6. ^ "Lieutenant General Mahat entrusted with NA acting Chief responsibility". thehimalayantimes.com. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Thapa to take charge of Nepali Army as acting CoAS - The Himalayan Times". thehimalayantimes.com. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Former army chief Gadul Shamsher Rana no more". thehimalayantimes.com. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Tough challenges ahead for new NA chief Chhetri - The Himalayan Times". thehimalayantimes.com. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  10. ^ "General Purna Thapa is new chief of Nepal Army". The Economic Times. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Thapa sworn in as new Army chief". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  12. ^ "नवनियुक्त प्रधानसेनापति शर्माले गरे पदभार ग्रहण". Setopati. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  13. ^ "General Prabhu Ram Sharma appointed new chief of Nepal Army". Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Nepali Army | नेपाली सेना". www.nepalarmy.mil.np. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Nepali Army | नेपाली सेना". www.nepalarmy.mil.np. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  16. ^ "नवनियुक्त प्रधानसेनापति सिग्देलले लगाए दर्ज्यानी चिह्न". Onlinekhabar. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Chhetri promoted to acting Army chief". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Thapa likely to be appointed Nepali Army chief". thehimalayantimes.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  19. ^ "CGS Biography". Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Nepal Keen on Maintaining World Military Relations". 6 September 2018.
  21. ^ "CGS Biography". Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  22. ^ a b "CGS Biography". Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  23. ^ a b "CoS Giri retiring Friday, Brig Gen Hamal to be promoted".

Bibliography

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