Lt Gen Ghai, ex-DGMO during Op Sindoor, commanded infantry battalion in western sector, independent brigade in central & Infantry Division in Arunachal, before Srinagar-based 15 Corps.
New Delhi: Indian Army Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, who was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) during Operation Sindoor last year, has been appointed as the new Military Adviser to National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). This is the first time a serving officer has been appointed as the MA to the NSCS headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
In the past, Lt Gen M.U. Nair had been appointed as National Cyber Security Coordinator in the NSCS, a year from his superannuation. Lt Gen Ghai, who has his tenure till December 2027, will take up the charge soon. He was appointed to the new post earlier this week.
Prior to him, General N.S. Raja Subramani, who is now the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was the MA. Prior to him, it was Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, and before him was Gen Anil Chauhan.
Lt Gen Vinod Khandare was the first MA to the NSCS in the Narendra Modi government. The post was revived in 2018. Lt Gen Prakash Menon, who retired in late 2011 was appointed the MA in 2012 and served till 2014. He was later appointed as an OSD (officer on special duty) in the NSCS for two years from March 2015 to 2017 and reported to Doval.
Lt Gen Ghai, who could have become an Army Commander, does not have the seniority in order and the residual service needed to become an Army Commander, and hence after commanding his Corps, became the DGMO and then the Deputy Chief.
Commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment, Lt Gen Ghai has commanded an infantry battalion in western sector, an independent brigade in the Central sector and was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 56th Infantry Division in Arunachal Pradesh before commanding the Srinagar based 15 Corps.
