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Manoj Mukund Naravane Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

April 8, 20240
Manoj Mukund Naravane

 

Manoj Mukund Naravane is an Indian Army officer who became the 28th Chief of the Army Staff on 31 December 2019.

Wiki/Biography

Manoj Mukund Naravane was born on Friday, 22 April 1960 (age 62 years; as of 2022) in Pune, Bombay State, India. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He did his schooling at the Jnana Prabodhini Prashala in Pune, Maharashtra. He pursued graduation from the National Defence Academy in Pune and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. He holds a master’s degree in Defence Studies from the University of Madras in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He pursued M.Phil. in Defence and Management from the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Naravane has also attended “The Defence Services Staff College” (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu and the Army War College in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper

Manoj Mukund Naravane inspecting the Guard of Honour

Family, Caste & Wife

Manoj Mukund Naravane was born in a Marathi Brahmin Family . His father, Mukund Naravane was an officer of the Indian Air Force, and his mother, Sudha was an All India Radio announcer. He is married to Veena Naravane (Teacher and the Vice President of the Army Wives Welfare Association). They have two daughters, Isha (Performing Artist) and Amala (PR Consultant).

Manoj Mukund Naravane with his wife Veena Naravane

Career

In June 1980, he was commissioned in the 7th battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. His service number is IC-38750H. In his 39 years of service, he has commanded numerous regiments and battalions. He was a part of the Indian peacekeeping force in Sri Lanka. He served as the Directing Staff of the Higher Command Wing in the “Army War College” of Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. Naravane was also India’s Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar.

Manoj Mukund Naravane in Myanmar

In January 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and given the command of the Ambala-based “Kharga Strike Corps.” In January 2017, he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Delhi area. On 1 December 2017, he was promoted as an Army Commander and appointed as the 20th General Officer Commander-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in Shimla. He has commanded the Rashtriya Rifles battalion in Jammu & Kashmir, and he was a part of many counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East.

Manoj Mukund Naravane addressing cadets at a training centre

On 1 October 2018, he was appointed as the General Officer Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, which guards India’s 4,000 km-long border with China in the eastern sector. On 1 September 2019, he was appointed as the Vice Chief of Army Staff. On 16 December 2019, on the eve of Vijay Diwas, he was named as the next Chief of Army Staff. On 31 December 2019, he took over Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of the Army Staff of India.

On 16 December 2021, Naravane was appointed the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; the committee comprises the three service chiefs. His appointment came in the wake of the demise of CDS Bipin Rawat, who was killed on 8 December 2021 in the IAF helicopter crash. On 30 April 2022, he retired as the Chief of Army Staff, and he handed over the charge to General Manoj Pande.

Gen Manoj Pandey takes over as the 29th Chief of Army Staff after Gen MM Naravane

Awards & Honours

  • “Vishisht Seva Medal” in 2015
  • “Ati Vishisht Seva Medal” in 2017
  • “Param Vishisht Seva Medal” in 2019

Facts/Trivia

  • Manoj Naravane likes gardening, painting, playing golf, and doing yoga.
  • During his school days, Manoj excelled at sports and extracurricular activities. However, it was his dream to join the Indian Army.
  • He has served in the Indian Army for 39 years. He is said to be a very humble man since his school days. Whenever someone would congratulate him on his promotions, he would always say- “It’s part of the profession.”
  • In 2017, he was Commander of the 26 January Republic Day parade.
  • Naravane is the third officer from the Sikh Light Infantry to be appointed as the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) after Ved Prakash Malik and Bikram Singh. He will be serving as the CoAS for two years and four months.
  • He has been an essential part in the working and decision makings of the Army, and he is often seen addressing press conferences and accompanying Cabinet Ministers to government functions.

    Manoj Mukund Naravane (extreme right) with Nirmala Sitharaman (centre) at a government function

  • Reportedly, he is a China expert, and he has experience in anti-insurgency operations in areas such as Jammu & Kashmir and Assam.

    Manoj Mukund Naravane during his time in the Eastern Command

  • Interestingly, after Naravane took charge as the Army Chief, all the three defence chiefs were from the 56th course of the National Defence Academy.

    Manoj Mukund Naravane (extreme right) escorting Narendra Modi