Lieutenant General K.T. Parnaik on Saturday took over command of the prestigious Northern Command at Udhampur.
The General is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and was commissioned into the 2 Rajputana Rifles on March 31, 1972. After early years of regimental service and staff appointments, he graduated from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He has done the Senior Command, Higher Command and National Defence College courses. During his long service career, he has held a variety of sterling and balanced portfolio of Command, Staff and Instructional assignments.
According to a handout issued by Northern Command, the Army Commander takes over Northern Command with his vast experience in counter insurgency and high altitude warfare. Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik was received at Bikram Park Helipad by Lt. Gen. Jasbir Singh, COS HQ Northern Command. Immediately after his arrival, the incoming Army Commander laid a wreath at the Dhruva Shaheed Samarak and thereafter proceeded to meet all officers posted in Headquarters Northern Command.
He commanded 2 Rajputana Rifles in Rajasthan Sector (Udaipur) and J & K, an Infantry Brigade in Operation Parakram on the LoC and a Mountain Division in a High Altitude Area of Sikkim. Before taking over as Director General of Perspective Planning, the General Officer commanded the prestigious Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) at Bhutan and a Corps in the North East. General Parnaik’s operational experience includes Operation Cactus Lily in 1972 and various counter insurgency operations in the North Eastern Sector and Jammu & Kashmir.