Abhay Krishna

Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of Indian Army. He served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command from 1 October 2018 following the retirement of Lieutenant General Balwant Singh Negi, to 30 September 2019.[1] He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Iqroop Singh Ghuman.[2] Prior to that, he commanded the Eastern Command and South Western Command of the Indian Army[3][4]


Abhay Krishna

Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of service7 June 1980 – 30 September 2019
Rank Lieutenant General
Service numberIC-38679A
UnitRajputana Rifles
Commands held Central Command
Eastern Command
South Western Command
III Corps
27 Mountain Division
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

Early life and education

Krishna is an alumnus of St Xavier's High School, Patna; National Defence Academy,[5] Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

Career

Krishna was commissioned into Rajputana Rifles on 7 June 1980. He has vast experience and has served four tenures along Line of Actual Control, two tenures as UN observer, in Mozambique & Rwanda and as Chief of Staff (UN forces) in Burundi. He has commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in the Kashmir valley, an infantry battalion in Sikkim, Brigadier General Staff 3 Corps, 27 Mountain division (Kalimpong), Chief of Staff (Delhi area) and GOC III Corps (Dimapur).[6][7][8] He has served as GOC-in-C of the South Western Command (25 January 2017 – 30 July 2017) and GOC-in-C of Eastern Command (1 August 2017 – 30 September 2018). He commanded the RR during Operation Hifazat (Manipur) and Operation Rakshak (Kupwara).[9][3][10][11][12][13]

Honours and decorations

During 39 years of his career, he has won a gallantry award in 1994 for being taken hostage, negotiating for release of other hostages and demobilisation of rebel forces during UN Peace Keeping Mission in Mozambique. He has also been awarded a Vishisht Sena Medal, Sena Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014,[14] Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2017 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018.[15][16][17] He was also the Colonel of the Regiment Rajputana Rifles and was Second-in-Command for the Republic Day parade in 2015.[3][9][18][19]

Param Vishisht Seva MedalUttam Yudh Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva MedalSena MedalVishisht Seva MedalSamanya Seva Medal
Special Service MedalOperation Vijay MedalSainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude Service Medal
Videsh Seva Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal
9 Years Long Service MedalONUMOZUNAMIRONUB

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Second LieutenantIndian Army7 June 1980[20]
LieutenantIndian Army7 June 1982[21]
CaptainIndian Army7 June 1985[22]
MajorIndian Army7 June 1991[23]
Lieutenant-ColonelIndian Army31 December 2002[24]
ColonelIndian Army1 February 2005[25]
BrigadierIndian Army1 September 2008 (seniority from 8 January 2008)[26]
Major GeneralIndian Army1 January 2013 (seniority from 4 April 2011)[27]
Lieutenant-GeneralIndian Army12 October 2015 (substantive)[28]

References

Military offices
Preceded by General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief Central Command
1 October 2018 – 30 September 2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
1 August 2017 - September 30, 2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief South Western Command
25 January 2017 – 31 July 2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Officer Commanding III Corps
23 Nov 2015 – 31 December 2016
Succeeded by