Rana Pratap Kalita
Rana Pratap Kalita | |
---|---|
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command | |
In office 1 February 2022 – 31 December 2023 | |
Chief of Army Staff | Manoj Mukund Naravane Manoj Pande |
Preceded by | Manoj Pande |
Succeeded by | Ram Chander Tiwari |
Personal details | |
Born | Rangiya, Kamrup, Assam, India |
Spouse | Nisha Kalita |
Military service | |
Allegiance | India |
Branch/service | Indian Army |
Years of service | 9 June 1984 – 31 December 2023[2] |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Unit | Kumaon Regiment |
Commands | Eastern Command III Corps[3] Officers Training Academy 19th Infantry Division 71 Infantry Brigade 13 Rashtriya Rifles |
Service number | IC-42004X[1] |
Awards | |
Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM is a former general officer in the Indian Army.[4] He served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army's Eastern Command. He previously commanded the III Corps at Dimapur.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]He was born in a Assamese Kalita family, in Rangia of Kamrup District to Jogendra Kalita & Renu Kalita. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Goalpara. He then attended the National Defence Academy,Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy.[6]
Military career
[edit]General Kalita was commissioned in 9 Kumaon Regiment on 9 June 1984 from Indian Military Academy Dehradun.[1] The General Officer commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in intense Counter Insurgency environment in Jammu & Kashmir, Mountain Brigade in peace, an Infantry Division in Jammu & Kashmir and Corps in North East. He brings with him an enormous operational experience of serving in various Ops which include Op PAWAN in Sri Lanka, Op PARAKRAM & Op RAKSHAK in J&K, Op BAJRANG & Op RHINO in Assam, Op ORCHID in Nagaland and Op HIFAZAT in Manipur. The General Officer has rich experience by virtue of serving in varied staff appointments to include Col GS of a Division and BGS (Ops) of a Corps in highly active Counter Insurgency environment. In addition, he has held key appointments in MS Branch, OL Dte, AG’s Branch in IHQ of MoD (Army) and Chief of the Staff, HQ Eastern Comd. He has also served as Instructor in OTA Chennai and Directing Staff in Higher Command Wing of Army War College, Mhow.The General Officer had two tenures in United Nations, as a Military Observer in Sierra Leone and Chief Operations Officer in Sudan.[7] He had commanded III Corps[8] and was the Chief of Staff of Eastern Command.[9] He also served as Director General - Manpower Planning and Personnel Services at Army Headquarters.[10] General Kalita is a recipient of PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM and VSM.[11]
He became the first Assamese to hold the charge of General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command. He succeeded Lieutenant General Manoj Pande on his elevation to Vice Chief of the Army Staff.[12] The General Officer was also the Colonel of the KUMAON & NAGA Regiment and KUMAON SCOUTS.
Personal life
[edit]General Kalita is married to Mrs Nisha Kalita, the couple have two children. Son is Commissioned in the Army and is a serving officer in 9 KUMAON and daughter is a lecturer in Delhi University.[7]
Awards and decorations
[edit]Across his military career Gen Kalita received numerous military decorations. The general officer was awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
Dates of rank
[edit]Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
---|---|---|---|
Second Lieutenant | Indian Army | 9 June 1984[1] | |
Lieutenant | Indian Army | 9 June 1986[13] | |
Captain | Indian Army | 9 June 1989[14] | |
Major | Indian Army | 9 June 1995[15] | |
Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 16 December 2004[16] | |
Colonel | Indian Army | 1 April 2006[17] | |
Brigadier | Indian Army | 13 June 2011 (acting) 8 August 2011 (substantive, with seniority from 19 March 2010)[18] | |
Major General | Indian Army | 19 October 2016 (seniority from 1 February 2015)[19] | |
Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 10 May 2019[20] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 10 August 1985. p. 1120.
- ^ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita is new 3 Corps commander - ET Government". ETGovernment.com.
- ^ "Assam's Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Awarded with Uttam Yudh Seva Medal - Sentinelassam". The Sentinel Assam. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Bureau, Pratidin (25 January 2022). "Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Named GOC-In-Chief Of Army's Eastern Command". Pratidin Time. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "SSG Alumni - Indian Army". Sainik School Goalpara. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ a b https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/army-commanders
- ^ "Assam: Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita relinquishes command of Spear Corps". NORTHEAST NOW. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita joined as the COS of the Eastern Command of Indian Army – APN News". www-apnnews-com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Lieutenant General RP Kalita Director General MP & PS and Colonel of the Kumaon & Naga Regiment & Kumaon Scouts felicitated Subedar Major Satish Kumar". 16 August 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ Today, North East (23 November 2021). "Assam's Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Receives Uttam Yudh Seva Medal". Northeast Today. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Lt. Gen. Rana P Kalita Takes Charge as General Officer Commanding in Chief in Kolkata". Sentinel Assam. 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 3 September 1988. p. 1303.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 23 June 1990. p. 1016.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 September 1995. p. 1304.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1900.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 February 2009. p. 258.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 22 March 2014. p. 436.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 April 2022. p. 758.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 24 October 2020. p. 1670.