Wani Majid
Srinagar, April 29: Lieutenant General Balbir Singh will assume command of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps on May 1, succeeding Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, officials said.
The 15 Corps, also known as the Chinar Corps, is responsible for guarding the Line of Control and overseeing counter-insurgency and internal security operations across the Kashmir Valley.
Lt Gen Balbir Singh was previously serving as Major General General Staff at Northern Command. With his promotion, he has been appointed to lead one of the Army’s key operational formations in Jammu and Kashmir.
An alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Balbir Singh has served in several operational roles in Kashmir related to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
Earlier in his career, he served at the 8 Sector headquarters in Lolab area of Kupwara district and later commanded the 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles during 2018–2019. In 2023, as Major General, he took over as General Officer Commanding of Counter Insurgency Force Victor based in Awantipora, which oversees security operations in south Kashmir.
Officials said he has worked closely with formations under the Chinar Corps and Northern Command during various coordinated operations and security reviews in the region.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava has been appointed Quarter Master General at Army Headquarters in New Delhi after completing his tenure as GOC of the Chinar Corps.
During his tenure in Kashmir, Lt Gen Srivastava oversaw several counter-terrorism operations and coordination efforts among security agencies. Officials said operations conducted during this period included Operation Mahadev, a joint operation involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF.
According to officials, Operation Mahadev resulted in the killing of three militants allegedly linked to the April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, including tourists, were killed.
Authorities said Lt Gen Srivastava also focused on coordination among security agencies and outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening civil-military relations in the Valley.
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