Bipin Rawat, Birender Dhanoa take charge as Indian army, air force chiefs
Follow UsGeneral Bipin Rawat assumed charge as the new chief of Indian Army on Saturday. Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa took over as the new chief of the Indian Air Force.
Gen Dalbir Singh hands over the command to 27th #COAS Gen Bipin Rawat in an impressive ceremony at South Block today. pic.twitter.com/1aOve6PuuF
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 31, 2016
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha hands over to Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa at Air HQ, New Delhi today @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/gM1IWy1BrV
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 31, 2016
They succeed General Dalbir Singh and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha respectively.
A Guard of Honour was conducted for General Dalbir Singh on the lawns of South Block in India's capital New Delhi before he handed over charge to General Rawat.
The outgoing army chief thanked the government for providing a free hand and implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for retired defence personnel.
He said that infiltration attempts had increased during the year and the number of terrorists killed too was nearly double the previous year, PTI reported.
He said the Indian Army was prepared to meet any challenges, adding that the force had focused on operational preparedness during his tenure.
In Vayu Bhawan, the Air Force headquarters situated in New Delhi, a Guard of Honour was presented to both Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and incoming chief BS Dhanoa.
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa reviewing the Guard of Honour while taking over Chief of Air Staff at Air HQ, New Delhi today @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/yINFImyuO9
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 31, 2016
The new appointments were announced on December 16 by the government. Chief of Naval staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will head the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
(WION with inputs from agencies)