Rana Pratap Kalita Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant General
Rana Pratap Kalita
Office:General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
1Blankname:Chief of Army Staff
1Namedata:Manoj Mukund Naravane
Manoj Pande
Predecessor:Manoj Pande
Successor:Ram Chander Tiwari
Birth Place:Rangiya, Kamrup, Assam, India
Allegiance: India
Rank: Lieutenant General
Military Blank1:Service number
Military Data1:IC-42004X
Unit: Kumaon Regiment
Serviceyears:9 June 1984 – 31 December 2023[1]
Commands: Eastern Command
III Corps[2]
Officers Training Academy
19th Infantry Division
71 Infantry Brigade
13 Rashtriya Rifles
Military Blank2:Awards
Military Data2:
Spouse:Nisha Kalita

Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM is a former general officer in the Indian Army.[3] 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.[4]

Early life and education

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.[5]

Military career

General Kalita was commissioned in 9 Kumaon Regiment on 9 June 1984 from Indian Military Academy Dehradun. 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.[6] He had commanded III Corps[7] and was the Chief of Staff of Eastern Command.[8] He also served as Director General - Manpower Planning and Personnel Services at Army Headquarters.[9] General Kalita is a recipient of PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM and VSM.[10]

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.[11] The General Officer was also the Colonel of the KUMAON & NAGA Regiment and KUMAON SCOUTS.

Personal life

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.[12]

Awards and decorations

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.

Param Vishisht Seva MedalUttam Yudh Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena MedalVishisht Seva MedalSamanya Seva MedalSpecial Service Medal
Siachen Glacier MedalOperation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram MedalSainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Service MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Anniversary of Independence Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service MedalUNAVEM III Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
9 June 1984[13]
Indian Army9 June 1986[14]
Indian Army9 June 1989[15]
Indian Army9 June 1995[16]
Indian Army16 December 2004[17]
Indian Army1 April 2006[18]
Indian Army13 June 2011 (acting)
8 August 2011 (substantive, with seniority from 19 March 2010)[19]
Indian Army19 October 2016 (seniority from 1 February 2015)[20]
Indian Army10 May 2019[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official Home Page of the Indian Army. 2022-02-13. www.indianarmy.nic.in.
  2. Web site: Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita is new 3 Corps commander - ET Government. ETGovernment.com.
  3. Web site: Assam's Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Awarded with Uttam Yudh Seva Medal - Sentinelassam. 2021-11-23. The Sentinel Assam. 23 November 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: Bureau. Pratidin. Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Named GOC-In-Chief Of Army's Eastern Command. 2022-01-25. Pratidin Time. 25 January 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: SSG Alumni - Indian Army. 2021-11-23. Sainik School Goalpara. en-GB.
  6. https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/army-commanders
  7. Web site: Assam: Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita relinquishes command of Spear Corps. 2021-11-23. NORTHEAST NOW. 9 February 2021 . en-US.
  8. Web site: Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita joined as the COS of the Eastern Command of Indian Army – APN News. 2021-11-23. www-apnnews-com.
  9. Web site: Lieutenant General RP Kalita Director General MP & PS and Colonel of the Kumaon & Naga Regiment & Kumaon Scouts felicitated Subedar Major Satish Kumar . 2021-08-16. 2021-11-24.
  10. Web site: Today. North East. 2021-11-23. Assam's Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Receives Uttam Yudh Seva Medal. 2021-11-23. Northeast Today. en-US.
  11. Web site: Lt. Gen. Rana P Kalita Takes Charge as General Officer Commanding in Chief in Kolkata. Sentinel Assam. 2022-01-25.
  12. https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/army-commanders
  13. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1120 . 10 August 1985 . The Gazette of India.
  14. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1303 . 3 September 1988 . The Gazette of India.
  15. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1016 . 23 June 1990 . The Gazette of India.
  16. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1304 . 30 September 1995 . The Gazette of India.
  17. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1900 . 15 October 2005 . The Gazette of India.
  18. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 258 . 21 February 2009 . The Gazette of India.
  19. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 436 . 22 March 2014 . The Gazette of India.
  20. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 758 . 16 April 2022 . The Gazette of India.
  21. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1670 . 24 October 2020 . The Gazette of India.