Lt Gen HS Lidder new CIDS

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) In Commander-level appointments in the Army announced today, Lt Gen Aditya Singh was named the Southern Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief and Lt Gen HS Lidder as Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff.

Lt Gen Aditya Singh -- a fourth generation Army Officer who volunteered as a continuum of the family legacy which dates back to 1858 -- joined the National Defence Academy in 1963 where he was awarded the President's Silver Medal.

Later, at the Indian Military Academy, he was conferred the 'Sword of Honour' for the best all-round performance and Gold Medal for being first in the order of merit.

He was commissioned into The Deccan Horse, one of the oldest regiments of the Armoured Corps.

A graduate of Staff College, Camberley (UK), Lt Gen Aditya Singh has served as a Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade in Jammu&Kashmir and as an instructor in Bhutan with the Indian Military Training Team.

Alumni of the National Defence College, he has had the distinction of commanding The Deccan Horse and The President's Bodyguard. He has also commanded a Sector in High Altitude area of the Indo Tibetan Border, an Armoured Brigade in Rajasthan and an Armoured Division.

Later, he was Chief of Staff of a Corps in the Western Sector. He then commanded a Corps in the Southern Theatre and was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service of a very high order.

Lt Gen Aditya Singh's last tenure was as Commander-in-Chief of the country's sole tri-Service Command at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- an appointment he assumed on January 14, 2005 soon after the Earthquake and Tsunami of December 26, 2004.

In this capacity he had been the Vice Chairman and Operational Head of the Integrated Relief Command till July 21, 2005 overseeing the relief and rehabilitation of the ravaged Islands.

He has been awarded a bar to Ati Vishist Seva Medal for his distinguished service as C-in-C Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Besides, his experience and contribution has been noteworthy in the field of education. He has been the President of the Army Institute of Law, a member of the Board of Directors of Yadvendra Public School, Patiala, and is presently a member of the General Council and Board of Governors of Mayo College, Ajmer.

Lt Gen Aditya Singh is an outstanding sportsman with his sporting interests including swimming and golf. He has represented the Indian Army in Polo.

Lt Gen HS Lidder, erstwhile GOC 4 Corps, was commissioned in 1967 in the Parachute Regiment.

The General Officer has held several prestigious appointments in the field and on Staff in the Army HQ. He has also served as Military Attache in the United States for three years.

In another appointment announced today, Lt Gen RK Chhabra, Chief of Staff 21 Corps, has been posted on promotion as GOC 4 Corps -- succeeding Lt Gen Lidder.

UNI DG RL RS1758