lt-General MMS Rai on Saturday took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff while lt General Praveen Bakshi, who is tipped to be the next Army chief, assumed charge as Chief of Kolkata based Eastern Command.
Rai was heading the Eastern Command before taking up the new assignment after incumbent lt-General Philip Campose retired as Vice Chief of Army staff on Friday. Rai was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (Bombay Sappers) on December 15, 1976, and joined an Armoured Engineer Regiment.
He held various staff and instructorship appointments besides attending various prestigious army courses, including the Defence Services Staff College Course at Wellington and Higher Command Course at Mhow, Army officials said here on Saturday.
lt-General Bakshi is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and was commissioned into Skinner’s Horse.