Guwahati: Lt-Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, an alumnus of the purpose of the Sainik School, will take over as GOC-In-C orders in Fort Williams in Kolkata in February 1.
February Kalita, who replaces LT-Gen Manoj Pande who moves as Deputy Head, was the first officer of Assam and northeast to become a military commander.
In September, 2020, when he was the GOC of 3 corps based in Rangapahar near the crunch, he was the first Assam army officer who was appointed as a corps commander and the second from the Northeast after LT-Gen KH Singh (Retd) from Manipur, too Alumnus from the destination of Sainik School.
LT-Gen Kalita previously served as Chief of Staff (COS) at the East Indian Army Command in Fort William in Kolkata.
He came from Rangiya in Assam and has been decorated with the Uttam Yudh Seva (UYSM) medal, ATI Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), ‘Vishisht Seva’ (twice) and ‘Sena Medal Medal’ for its outstanding service.
He has a lot of teaching and staff appointment.
He is currently the Colonel of Kumaon regimens.
He is VSM (bar).
He was assigned in the 9 Kumaon regiments in 1984.
When posted in New Delhi, he coordinated the funeral of the former Prime Minister Ab Vajpayee.
Also, an alumnus from the National Defense Academy, he has held several coveted posts, including BGS (OP) on 15th Corps, Srinagar.
He previously ordered the 13th Rashtriya Rifles and then the 71st Infantry Brigade in Lucknow.
He was also an instructor at the Academy of the official training.
He also ordered the 19th Infantry Division at Baramulla Loc.