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{{Short description|20th Chief of Army Staff}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office2 = 20th [[Chief of Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]]
| term2 = 1 February 2005 – 31 August 2007
| president2 = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]
| primeminister2 = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor2 = [[Sundararajan Padmanabhan]]
| successor2 = [[Joginder Jaswant Singh|J. J. Singh]]
| honorific_prefix = [[General (India)|General]]
| name = Nirmal Chander Vij
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal|UYSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]]
| image = General Nirmal Chander Vij.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|1|3|df=y}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = [[Jammu]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|State of Jammu and Kashmir]], [[British Raj]] (now in [[Jammu]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]])
| death_place =
| serviceyears = 1962–2005
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|India}}
| rank = [[File:General of the Indian Army.svg|25px]] [[General (India)|General]]
| unit = [[Dogra Regiment]]
| commands = [[File:IA_Southern_Command.svg|20px]] [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Army]] [[File:Gajraj corps.png|20px]] [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] [[File:Sudarshan Chakra Corps (Cropped).jpg|20px]] [[XXI Corps (India)|XXI Corps]]
| awards = [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]] [[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
| battles = [[Sino-Indian War]] 
[[Kargil war]]
}}

[[General (India)|General]] '''Nirmal Chander Vij''' [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal|UYSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]] (born 3 January 1943, in [[Jammu]]) was the 20th [[Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army|Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Indian Army]]. He held the office from 1 January 2003 to 31 January 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/gen-nc-vij-takes-over-as-new-chief-of-army-staff/66385/|title=Gen NC Vij Takes Over As New Chief Of Army Staff|date=1 January 2003|work=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]]|access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="army">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTemp1PTC2C.aspx?MnId=kvdthG/15rY=&ParentID=oYjJbpqKulY=|title=General Nirmal Chander Vij, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM (31 Dec 2002 to 31 Jan 2005)|work=[[Indian Army]]|access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
General Vij was born on 3 January 1943<ref>Shankar Prasad, ''The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment'' (Lancer Publishers, 2005) p433</ref> at [[Jammu]]. He completed his studies at the [[SRML Higher Secondary School]], Jammu and joined the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] (NDA) in 1959. He was commissioned into the [[Dogra Regiment]] on 11 December 1962.{{cn|date=September 2021}}

== Military career ==
Within weeks of his commissioning, he saw action in the [[Walong]] sector in the [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Indo-China War]]. Since then he has served in the eastern sector six times, the last time being as the [[General officer commanding]] [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]]. Vij has served as the [[General staff officer]] of an [[infantry division]], a director in the Military Operations Directorate as a [[colonel]] and deputy director general of perspective planning (strategic planning) as a [[brigadier]] at Army HQ in [[New Delhi]].<ref name ="army"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://getahead.rediff.com/news/2002/oct/31army.htm|title= N C Vij appointed new army chief |last=Press Trust of India |author-link=Press Trust of India |work=[[Rediff]]|access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref>

Vij served as the Major General General Staff (MGGS) at the Western Command in [[Chandimandir]], [[Chandigarh]] ([[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]). During the 1999 [[Kargil War]], he served as the Director General Military Operations (DGMO). In 1999, he broke the military tradition to brief members of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) on operations in [[Kargil War|Kargil]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050201/asp/nation/story_4322226.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203163232/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050201/asp/nation/story_4322226.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2013|title=Army baton in hand, "Tiger" roars|last=DUTTA|first=SUJAN |date=1 February 2005|work=The Telegraph|access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref> He was criticized for appearing, in his professional capacity before a group of senior BJP leaders, and briefing them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1616/16160220.htm|title=Now, the cover-up|last=Swami|first=Praveen|date=13 August 1999|work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|access-date=10 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702140431/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1616/16160220.htm|archive-date=2 July 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

For his services as the DGMO, he was awarded{{When|date=November 2021}} the [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]]. He was involved was the planning and execution of [[Operation Khukri]] – to extricate trapped Indian peacekeeping troops in [[Sierra Leone]]. The formations he has commanded include a mountain brigade involved in active counter-insurgency operations in the north east, an elite [[RAPID]] (Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Division) unit, the [[XXI Corps (India)|XXI Strike Corps]] based at [[Bhopal]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]<ref name="HT">{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/of-commanders-and-their-command/story-EHeznqPlR1ZwhUNQCdMYlL.html|title=Of commanders and their command|date=2006-12-09|access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> and the [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] based at [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]]. He is also a recipient of the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] (PVSM). On 1 October 2000, Vij was appointed as the GOC of Southern Command at [[Pune]] and led the army's rescue efforts during the [[2001 Gujarat earthquake]]. In October 2001, he was appointed as the [[Vice Chief of Army Staff (India)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]] (VCOAS) at New Delhi and in January 2002, he was appointed as the 10th Colonel of the [[Dogra Regiment]] and the [[Dogra Scouts]].

He was appointed as the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) on 1 January 2005. He is married to Rita Vij and they have a son, Nalin, who is a software engineer in the United States.<ref name="army"/> General Vij retired on 31 January 2005, after completing more than 42 years service.

== Post retirement ==
He was the founder-Vice Chairman of the [[National Disaster Management Authority (India)|National Disaster Management Authority]], in 2005, with an equivalent rank of a Union Minister of State.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ndma.gov.in/ndma/ncvij.htm|title=Gen. N.C.Vij PVSM, UYSM, AVSM (Retd) Vice Chairman|work=National Disaster Management Agency|access-date=10 March 2010|archive-date=7 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807042533/http://ndma.gov.in/ndma/ncvij.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was the Director of the [[Vivekananda International Foundation]] think tank in New Delhi. In 2021, his book "The Kashmir Conundrum: The Quest for Peace in a Troubled Land" was published by Harper Collins.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-23|title=New book by Army ex-chief Gen. Vij offers 'complete picture', way forward on Jammu & Kashmir|url=https://theprint.in/softcover/new-book-by-army-ex-chief-gen-vij-offers-complete-picture-way-forward-on-jammu-kashmir/785764/|access-date=2021-12-29|website=ThePrint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=22 December 2021|title=Former Army Chief Gen(retd) NC Vij Claims Jammu And Kashmir To Be Free Of Militancy In 8–10 Years|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/former-army-chief-genretd-nc-vij-claims-jammu-and-kashmir-to-be-free-of-militancy-in-8-10-years/406338|access-date=2021-12-29|website=Outlook India}}</ref>

== Recent controversy ==
Builders by name Adarsh Housing Cooperative Society have been constructing buildings in the prime government land in [[Mumbai]]. The permission for construction on this government land has been taken in name of providing the affordable accommodation to war widows and the land had been reserved for this purpose. However, many politicians, top military officials, other bureaucrats and their relatives have taken the ownership of the flats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/cm-link-in-adarsh-housing-society-scam/703869|title=Maha CM link in Adarsh Housing scam|date=28 October 2010|access-date=30 October 2010}}</ref> [[Ashok Chavan]], former chief minister of [[Maharashtra]], resigned under pressure for his role in this scam. CBI is probing the scam. Gen N C Vij along with two other former military chiefs – [[Deepak Kapoor|General Deepak Kapoor]], and [[Madhvendra Singh|Admiral Madhvendra Singh]] offered to give up their apartments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-Navy-chiefs-offer-to-return-flats/articleshow/6838674.cms|title=Army, Navy chiefs offer to return flats|access-date=30 October 2010 | work=The Times Of India|date=30 October 2010}}</ref>

== Awards ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| [[File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|-
| [[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
| [[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|105px]]
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| [[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|-
| [[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg|105px]]
| [[File:IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
| [[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|-
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|-
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|
| [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
| [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]]
|
|-
| [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
| [[Samanya Seva Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Special Service Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Paschimi Star]]
|-
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Operation Vijay Star]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Siachen Glacier Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Raksha Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sangram Medal]]

|-
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Operation Vijay Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sainya Seva Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Service Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|-
| [[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|25th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
| [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}

== Dates of rank ==
{| class="wikitable" style="background:white"
! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg|35px]] || [[Second Lieutenant]] || [[Indian Army]] || 11 December 1962<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=210 |date=22 June 1963 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Lieutenant_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant]] || Indian Army || 11 December 1964<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=109 |date=27 February 1965 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Captain_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] || Indian Army || 11 December 1968<ref name="captain">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=601 |date=28 June 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Major_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major (rank)|Major]] || Indian Army || 11 December 1975<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1534 |date=6 November 1976 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Lieutenant_Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] || Indian Army || 20 October 1982<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=898 |date=11 June 1983 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Colonel]] || Indian Army || 28 May 1986
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Brigadier_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Brigadier]] || Indian Army || 25 September 1990<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1446 |date=22 August 1992 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Major_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major general#India|Major General]] || Indian Army || 1 October 1993<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1775 |date=23 December 1995 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Lieutenant_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-General]] || Indian Army || 1 November 1996 (seniority from 3 June 1996)<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=794 |date=31 May 1997 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[General (India)|General]] (COAS) || Indian Army || 1 January 2003<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=632 |date=10 May 2003 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef| before = [[Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy]]}}
{{s-ttl| title= [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]] | years = 2004–2005}}
{{s-aft| after = [[Arun Prakash]]}}
{{s-bef| before = [[S. Padmanabhan|Sundararajan Padmanabhan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army|Chief of Army Staff]]|years = 2003–2005 }}
{{s-aft|after = [[Joginder Jaswant Singh]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[S. Padmanabhan|Sundararajan Padmanabhan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]]|years = 2000–2001}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Gurbaksh Singh Sihota]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee}}
{{Chief of the Army Staff India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vij, Nirmal Chander}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Army Staff (India)]]
[[Category:People from Jammu (city)]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Army Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]

Nirmal Chander Vij - Revision history

imported>Extorc at 21:38, 3 May 2025