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 | |
 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Abbreviation | COAS |
| Reports to | Prime Minister of Nepal Ministry of Defence |
| Seat | Bhadrakali, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Nominator | Government of Nepal |
| Appointer | President of Nepal |
| Term length | 3 years or up to 61 years of age[1] |
| Precursor | Commander-in-Chief of Nepal Army |
| Formation | 15 May 1979 |
| First holder | General Singha Pratap Shah |
| Succession | On basis of seniority, subjected to the decision of the Prime Minister of Nepal. |
| Unofficial names | Army Chief Chief Sa'ab |
| Deputy | Vice Chief of Army Staff |
| Website | Official 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
editThe 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
editAs 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
editAs 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
editAs 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
edit| No. | Portrait | Chief of Army Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Unit of Commission | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Singha Pratap Shah OGDB, OTSP | 15 May 1979 | 15 May 1983 | 4 years, 0 days | – | – | |
| 2 | General Arjun Narsingh Rana OGDB, OTSP | 15 May 1983 | 15 May 1987 | 4 years, 0 days | – | – | |
| 3 | General Satchit Rana OGDB, OTSP (1934–2007) | 15 May 1987 | 15 May 1991 | 4 years, 0 days | Shreenath Battalion | – | |
| 4 | General Gadul Shamsher JB Rana OGDB, OTSP (1936–2016) | 15 May 1991 | 4 May 1995 | 3 years, 354 days | – | [8] | |
| 5 | General Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa OGDB, OTSP (1936–2024) | 15 May 1995 | 15 May 1999 | 4 years, 0 days | – | – | |
| 6 | General Prajwalla Shamsher JB Rana OGDB, OTSP | 19 May 1999 | 9 September 2002 | 3 years, 113 days | – | – | |
| 7 | General Pyar Jung Thapa | 10 September 2002 | 9 September 2006 | 3 years, 364 days | – | – | |
| 8 | General Rookmangad Katawal (born 1948) | 9 September 2006 | 9 September 2009 | 3 years, 0 days | Shreenath Battalion | – | |
| 9 | General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung (born 1952) | 9 September 2009 | 5 September 2012 | 2 years, 362 days | Shreenath Battalion | – | |
| 10 | General Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana (born 1955) | 6 September 2012 | 10 September 2015 | 3 years, 4 days | Purano Gorakh Battalion | [9] | |
| 11 | General Rajendra Chhetri (born 1960) | 10 September 2015 | 8 September 2018 | 2 years, 363 days | Rajdal Battalion | [7] | |
| 12 | General Purna Chandra Thapa (born 1960) | 9 September 2018 | 8 September 2021 | 2 years, 364 days | Gorakh Bahadur Battalion | [1][10] [11] | |
| 13 | General Prabhu Ram Sharma (born 1964) | 9 September 2021 | 8 September 2024 | 2 years, 365 days | Purano Gorakh Battalion | [12][13][14][15] | |
| 14 | General Ashok Raj Sigdel (born 1967) | 9 September 2024 | Incumbent | 76 days | Devidutta Battalion | [16] |
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Chief of General Staff
editChief 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | General Rajendra Chhetri (born 1960) | February 2015 | July 2015 | 5 months | Rajdal Battalion | [17] | |
| – | Lieutenant General Baldev Raj Mahat | July 2015 | 4 November 2017 | 2 years, 4 months | – | [17][18] | |
| – | General Purna Chandra Thapa (born 1960) | 4 November 2017 | 8 August 2018 | 277 days | Gorakh Bahadur Battalion | [7][18][19] | |
| – | Lieutenant General Hemanta Raj Kunwar | 16 September 2018 | 23 April 2019 | 219 days | Naya Gorakh Battalion | [20][21][22] | |
| 40 | Lieutenant General Sarad Giri | 23 April 2019 | 20 June 2020 | 1 year, 58 days | Rajdal Battalion | [22][23] | |
| - | Lieutenant General Prabhu Ram Sharma (born 1964) | 2020 | 9 August 2021 | - | Purano Gorakh Battalion | [15][23] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Thapa likely to be appointed Nepali Army chief". thehimalayantimes.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Nepal army chief conferred honorary rank of General in India". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ Adhikari 2015, p. 155.
- ^ "President confers honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' on Nepal Army Chief". Printline Media. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Military act 2063" (PDF). www.nepalarmy.mil.np.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Mahat entrusted with NA acting Chief responsibility". thehimalayantimes.com. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Former army chief Gadul Shamsher Rana no more". thehimalayantimes.com. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Tough challenges ahead for new NA chief Chhetri - The Himalayan Times". thehimalayantimes.com. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "General Purna Thapa is new chief of Nepal Army". The Economic Times. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Thapa sworn in as new Army chief". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "नवनियुक्त प्रधानसेनापति शर्माले गरे पदभार ग्रहण". Setopati. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "General Prabhu Ram Sharma appointed new chief of Nepal Army". Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Nepali Army | नेपाली सेना". www.nepalarmy.mil.np. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Nepali Army | नेपाली सेना". www.nepalarmy.mil.np. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "नवनियुक्त प्रधानसेनापति सिग्देलले लगाए दर्ज्यानी चिह्न". Onlinekhabar. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Chhetri promoted to acting Army chief". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Thapa likely to be appointed Nepali Army chief". thehimalayantimes.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "CGS Biography". Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Nepal Keen on Maintaining World Military Relations". 6 September 2018.
- ^ "CGS Biography". Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ a b "CGS Biography". Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ a b "CoS Giri retiring Friday, Brig Gen Hamal to be promoted".
Bibliography
edit- Acharya, Baburam (2012), Acharya, Shri Krishna (ed.), Janaral Bhimsen Thapa : Yinko Utthan Tatha Pattan (in Nepali), Kathmandu: Education Book House, p. 228, ISBN 9789937241748
- Adhikari, Indra (2015), Military and Democracy in Nepal, Routledge, ISBN 9781317589068
- Nepal, Gyanmani (2007), Nepal ko Mahabharat (in Nepali) (3rd ed.), Kathmandu: Sajha, p. 314, ISBN 9789993325857
- Oldfield, Henry Ambrose (1880), Sketches from Nipal, Vol 1, vol. 1, London: W.H. Allan & Co.
- Pradhan, Kumar L. (2012), Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, p. 278, ISBN 9788180698132
- Khatri, Shiva Ram (1999), Nepal Army Chiefs: Short Biographical Sketches, University of Michigan: Sira Khatri