Bikram Singh (general)

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is the current Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (CoAS). Previously the head of the Eastern Command, he became the 27th CoAS succeeding General V. K. Singh, who retired on 31 May 2012. He is second Sikh to be CoAS, the first having been General J. J. Singh.

Family
Singh is married to Surjeet Kaur and the couple have two children.

Military career
A graduate of the 40th course at the National Defence Academy, Singh was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry on 31 March 1972. He was adjudged the 'Best Young Officer' at the Young Officer's course at the Infantry School. He was awarded both the Commando Dagger for being the best commando and the 'Best in Tactics' trophy. He later was an instructor at the Commando Wing of the Infantry School. He graduated from the United States Army War College in 2004, and during his tenure as the Chief of Army Staff, he was honoured by being inducted into the institute's International Fellows Hall of Fame for having made a significant and enduring military/humanitarian contribution to international peace and stability.

After completing the Higher Command Course, he served his first tenure as a Director in the Military Operations (MO) Directorate. The tenure coincided with the Kargil War and he was the official spokesperson of the Army during that period. He went on to serve four important tenures at Army HQ: an additional tenure in the MO Directorate as the Deputy Director General, two tenures in the Perspective Planning Directorate, as the Deputy Director General of Perspective Planning (Strategy) and later, as the Additional Director General. He was posted back to the Army HQ as a Lieutenant General to serve as the Director General Staff Duties (DGSD).

He has held positions of GOC-in-C Eastern Command, GOC 15 Corps, GOC Rashtriya Rifles and GOC of Eastern Division in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was wounded while posted as a Brigadier in Jammu & Kashmir, where he has spent much of his service,

Awards and decorations

 * Param Vishisht Seva Medal
 * Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
 * Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
 * Sena Medal
 * Vishisht Seva Medal