New Delhi
Lieutenant General Avinash Das, a distinguished officer with nearly four decades of service in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), has assumed charge as the Commandant of the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), the apex medical institution of the Indian Army, the Defence Ministry announced on Sunday.
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Lt Gen Das is a highly accomplished ENT surgeon with a remarkable record of clinical excellence, leadership, and administrative expertise. Taking charge he brings a wealth of experience from various key appointments, including serving as Senior Advisor at Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt, and Command Hospital, Lucknow.
Throughout his illustrious career, Lt Gen Das has been recognised with multiple honours, including commendation cards from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Integrated Staff Committee (CISC), and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), for his exceptional service and leadership. As Commandant of the Command Hospital (Northern Command), he successfully led the relocation of the Udhampur hospital to a new state-of-the-art facility, enhancing healthcare access for personnel in the region.
His new role at Army Hospital (R&R) is expected to further advance the institution’s legacy of excellence in patient care, medical innovation, and research. He aims to strengthen the hospital’s role as a centre of excellence in military medicine, serving both the armed forces and civilians.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry also announced key appointments in the Indian Navy. Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh has assumed charge as the Chief of Personnel, while Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar has taken over as the 40th Chief of Materiel. Vice Admiral Singh, an NDA alumnus and Gunnery and Missiles specialist, has held several prestigious sea and shore appointments.
