New Delhi, May 1: Lieutenant General Vijay B Nair, AVSM, SM, assumed charge as the Commandant of the prestigious Infantry School in Mhow, marking a significant milestone in his distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades.
An alumnus of Sainik School Kazhakootam, the National Defence Academy, and the Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Nair was commissioned into the 21 Punjab Regiment in June 1988. Over the years, he went on to command the same battalion, building a reputation as a seasoned infantry officer with extensive operational and leadership experience.
Hailing from Palakkad district in Kerala, Lt Gen Nair has held a wide range of command, staff, and instructional appointments during his 38 years of service. His key command assignments include leading a brigade under the Desert Strike Corps, heading the Leh Sub Area, commanding the Tiger Division in Jammu and Kashmir, and serving with the Vajra Corps in Punjab.
The General Officer’s operational experience is both diverse and extensive. He has served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, completed eight tenures along the Line of Control, and participated in multiple counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, he has held important staff positions, including Chief of Staff of both the Western and Northern Commands.
Lt Gen Nair has also gained valuable international exposure through his service with the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan and as Chief of Staff in a multinational brigade under a United Nations Chapter VII mission. His contributions in conflict zones were recognised with the United Nations Force Commander’s Commendation during his tenure in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A highly accomplished officer academically, he is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad, and the National Defence College. His instructional roles have included key positions at the Army War College and the Defence Services Staff College, where he served as a Senior Instructor and Head of Training Team.
For his exemplary service, Lt Gen Nair has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and multiple Army Commander’s Commendation Cards.
His appointment as Commandant of the Infantry School—one of the Indian Army’s premier training institutions—comes at a time when the force continues to focus on modernisation and enhanced combat preparedness.
