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Rana Pratap Kalita

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Lieutenant General
Rana Pratap Kalita
PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
In office
1 February 2022 (2022-02-01) – 31 December 2023 (2023-12-31)
Chief of Army StaffManoj Mukund Naravane
Manoj Pande
Preceded byManoj Pande
Succeeded byRam Chander Tiwari
Personal details
Born
Rangiya, Kamrup, Assam, India
SpouseNisha Kalita
Awards
Assam Baibhav (2024)
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Army
Years of service
9 June 1984 – 31 December 2023[1]
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit Kumaon Regiment
Commands Eastern Command
III Corps[2]
Officers Training Academy
19th Infantry Division
71 Infantry Brigade
13 Rashtriya Rifles
Service numberIC-42004X[3]
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

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He was born 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

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General Kalita was commissioned in 9 Kumaon Regiment on 9 June 1984 from Indian Military Academy Dehradun.[3] The General Officer commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion during a counter insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir, Mountain Brigade in peace, an Infantry Division in Jammu & Kashmir and Corps in North East. He served in various operations including operation PAWAN in Sri Lanka, operation PARAKRAM & Op RAKSHAK in J&K, operation BAJRANG & operation RHINO in Assam, operation ORCHID in Nagaland and operation HIFAZAT in Manipur. THe has held varied staff appointments including Col GS of a Division and BGS (Ops) of a Corps in highly active Counter Insurgency environment. In addition, he has held 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 a 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 person from Assam 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

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General Kalita is married to Mrs Nisha Kalita; the couple have two children. Their son is commissioned in the Army and is a serving officer in 9 KUMAON, and their daughter is a lecturer in Delhi University.[7]

Awards and decorations

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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 Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal
Siachen Glacier Medal Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UNAVEM III Medal

Dates of rank

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InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Second LieutenantIndian Army9 June 1984[3]
LieutenantIndian Army9 June 1986[13]
CaptainIndian Army9 June 1989[14]
MajorIndian Army9 June 1995[15]
Lieutenant-ColonelIndian Army16 December 2004[16]
ColonelIndian Army1 April 2006[17]
BrigadierIndian Army13 June 2011 (acting)
8 August 2011 (substantive, with seniority from 19 March 2010)[18]
Major GeneralIndian Army19 October 2016 (seniority from 1 February 2015)[19]
Lieutenant-GeneralIndian Army10 May 2019[20]

References

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  1. ↑ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita is new 3 Corps commander - ET Government". ETGovernment.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 10 August 1985. p. 1120.
  4. ↑ "Assam's Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Awarded with Uttam Yudh Seva Medal - Sentinelassam". The Sentinel Assam. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Named GOC-In-Chief Of Army's Eastern Command". Pratidin Time. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "SSG Alumni - Indian Army". Sainik School Goalpara. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/army-commanders
  8. ↑ "Assam: Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita relinquishes command of Spear Corps". NORTHEAST NOW. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Today, North East (23 November 2021). "Assam's Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Receives Uttam Yudh Seva Medal". Northeast Today. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Lt. Gen. Rana P Kalita Takes Charge as General Officer Commanding in Chief in Kolkata". Sentinel Assam. 25 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 3 September 1988. p. 1303.
  14. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 23 June 1990. p. 1016.
  15. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 September 1995. p. 1304.
  16. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1900.
  17. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 February 2009. p. 258.
  18. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 22 March 2014. p. 436.
  19. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 April 2022. p. 758.
  20. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 24 October 2020. p. 1670.
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