In his 37 years of service, Lt Gen Naravane has served in numerous command and staff appointments.

Lt General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will succeed Army Chief General Bipin Rawat when he retires at the end of this month after a three-year stint.

Lt General Naravane took charge as Vice Chief of the Army Staff in September. Earlier, he was heading the Eastern Command of the Indian Army that takes care of India's nearly 4,000-km border with China.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, he was commissioned into the 7th Battalion, The Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980.

In his four-decade long career, Lt General Naravane has served both in the North East and in Jammu and Kashmir. He was also a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during Operation PAWAN. He has also served as defence attache at the Indian Embassy in Myanmar for three years.

He has been awarded the 'Sena Medal' (Distinguished) for command of his Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir, the 'Vishisht Seva Medal' for his services as the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in Nagaland and the 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal' for command of a prestigious Strike Corps. He has also been honoured with 'Param Vishisht Seva Medal' for his services as the General Officer Commanding of the Army Training Command.

Army Chief Bipin Rawat, who retires on December 31, is widely expected to be appointed as India's first chief of defence staff.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the chief of defence staff post in his Independence Day speech earlier this year. A Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), though a four-star officer of either the Army, Navy or Air Force, will be senior to the service chiefs and the single point of contact between the armed forces and the Prime Minister.

General Bipin Rawat has handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the Line of Control with Pakistan, the Line of Actual Control with China, and in the North-East.