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Chief of Army Staff of the Nepal Army
नेपालका प्रधानसेनापति
Emblem of Nepal
Emblem of Nepal
COAS General Purna Chandra Thapa (Nepali Army)
Incumbent
General Purna Chandra Thapa
since 9 September 2018
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 upto 61 years of age[1]
Precursor Commander-in-Chief of Nepal Army
Formation 15 May 1979; ago (1979-05-15)
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 Chief of General Staff
Website Official website

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) (Nepali language: नेपालको प्रधानसेनापति), informally known as Chief Sa'ab (Nepali language: चिफ सा'ब), is a military appointment and statutory office held by the four-star rank army general in the Nepalese Army, who is appointed by the President of Nepal on the recommendation of Council of Ministers of Nepal. The Chief of Army Staff is the commander and head of the Nepalese Army.

The Chief of Army Staff is the Chief of the Nepalese Army and reports to the Government of Nepal. 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 Purna Chandra Thapa, since 9 September 2018.

History[]

The 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.[2] During the Rana dynasty, the post of army chief was hereditary. In 1979, General Singha Pratap Shah 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.

Appointment[]

As 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.[3] 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.[3] 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).[4] 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.[5]

Powers, duties and responsibilities[]

As 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.[3]

Removal[]

As 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.[3]

List of Chiefs of the Army Staff of Nepal (1979–present)[]

Chief of Army Staff Took office Left office Time in office Unit of Commission Ref
1Shah, Singha PratapGeneral Singha Pratap Shah OGDB, OTSP15 May 197915 May 19834 years, 0 days--
2Rana, Arjun NarsinghGeneral Arjun Narsingh Rana OGDB, OTSP15 May 198315 May 19874 years, 0 days--
3Rana, Satchit Shamsher Jang BahadurGeneral Satchit Rana OGDB, OTSP
(1934–2007)
15 May 198715 May 19914 years, 0 daysShreenath Battalion-
4Rana, Gadul Shamsher Jang BahadurGeneral Gadul Shamsher JB Rana OGDB, OTSP
(1936–2016)
15 May 19914 May 19953 years, 354 days-[6]
5Thapa, Dharmapal BarsinghGeneral Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa OGDB, OTSP
(born 1936)
15 May 199515 May 19994 years, 0 days--
6Rana, Prajwalla Shamsher Jang BahadurGeneral Prajwalla Shamsher JB Rana OGDB, OTSP19 May 19999 September 20034 years, 113 days--
7Thapa, Pyar JungGeneral Pyar Jung Thapa10 September 200309 September 20062 years, 364 days--
8Katawal, RookmangudGeneral Rookmangad Katawal
(born 1948)
09 September 200609 September 20093 years, 0 days--
9Gurung, Chhatra Man SinghGeneral Chhatra Man Singh Gurung
(born 1952)
09 September 200905 September 20122 years, 362 daysShreenath Battalion-
10
Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana
Rana, Gaurav Shumsher JBGeneral Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana
(born 1955)
06 September 201210 September 20153 years, 4 daysPurano Gorakh Battalion[7]
11
Rajendra Chhetri
Chhetri, RajendraGeneral Rajendra Chhetri
(born 1960)
10 September 20158 September 20182 years, 363 daysRajdal Battalion[5]
12
Purna Chandra Thapa
Thapa, Purna ChandraGeneral Purna Chandra Thapa
(born 1960)
9 September 2018Incumbent6 years, 88 daysGorakh Bahadur Battalion[1][8][9]

Vice Chief of Army Staff[]

Chief of General Staff (CGS) is the deputy position of the Chief of Army Staff. The CGS is generally ranked as Lieutenant General (three star General). The chief of general staff is assigned to look after intelligence and operations in the Army.[10] Currently, Lt. Gen. Sarad Giri is the CGS of the Nepal Army.

Chief of General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Unit of Commission Ref
-Chhetri, RajendraGeneral Rajendra Chhetri
(born 1960)
February 2015July 20155 monthsRajdal Battalion[10]
-Mahat, Baldev RajLieutenant General Baldev Raj MahatJuly 20154 November 20172 years, 4 months-[10][11]
-Thapa, Purna ChandraGeneral Purna Chandra Thapa
(born 1960)
4 November 20178 August 2018277 daysGorakh Bahadur Battalion[5][11][12]
-Kunwar, Hemanta RajLieutenant General Hemanta Raj Kunwar16 September 201823 April 2019219 daysNaya Gorakh Battalion[13][14][15][16]
40Giri, SaradLieutenant General Sarad Giri23 April 2019Incumbent5 years, 227 daysRajdal Battalion[16]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Thapa likely to be appointed Nepali Army chief". 4 November 2017. https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/purna-chandra-thapa-likely-appointed-nepali-army-chief/. Retrieved 18 September 2018. 
  2. Adhikari 2012, p. 155.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Military act 2063" (PDF). https://www.nepalarmy.mil.np/upload/military_act/military_act_2063.pdf. 
  4. "Lieutenant General Mahat entrusted with NA acting Chief responsibility". 29 June 2017. https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/lieutenant-general-baldev-raj-mahat-entrusted-nepal-army-acting-chief-responsibility/. Retrieved 21 September 2018. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Thapa to take charge of Nepali Army as acting CoAS - The Himalayan Times". 9 August 2018. https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/lieutenant-general-purna-chandra-thapa-to-take-charge-of-nepali-army-as-acting-chief-of-army-staff/. Retrieved 18 September 2018. 
  6. "Former army chief Gadul Shamsher Rana no more". 6 April 2016. https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/former-nepal-army-chief-gadul-shamsher-rana-no-more/. Retrieved 18 September 2018. 
  7. "Tough challenges ahead for new NA chief Chhetri - The Himalayan Times". 10 September 2015. https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/tough-challenges-ahead-for-new-na-chief-chhetri/. Retrieved 18 September 2018. 
  8. "General Purna Thapa is new chief of Nepal Army". 9 September 2018. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/general-purna-thapa-is-new-chief-of-nepal-army/articleshow/65740999.cms. Retrieved 18 September 2018. 
  9. "Thapa sworn in as new Army chief". http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-09-10/thapa-sworn-in-as-new-army-chief.html. Retrieved 18 September 2018. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Chhetri promoted to acting Army chief". http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-08-07/chhetri-promoted-to-acting-army-chief.html. Retrieved 21 September 2018. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Thapa likely to be appointed Nepali Army chief". 4 November 2017. https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/purna-chandra-thapa-likely-appointed-nepali-army-chief/. Retrieved 21 September 2018. 
  12. "CGS Biography". https://www.nepalarmy.mil.np/page/cgs_biography. Retrieved 2 January 2019. 
  13. http://therisingnepal.org.np/news/25695
  14. https://www.nepalisansar.com/news/nepal-keen-on-maintaining-world-military-relations/
  15. "CGS Biography". https://www.nepalarmy.mil.np/page/cgs_biography. Retrieved 2 January 2019. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 "CGS Biography". https://www.nepalarmy.mil.np/page/cgs_biography. Retrieved 9 July 2019. 

Books[]

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