Rakesh Kapoor (general)

Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor AVSM, VSM
Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor as DCOAS
Allegiance	India
Branch	Indian Army
Years of service	19 December 1987 – 30 November 2025
Rank	Lieutenant General
Service number	IC-47076L
Unit	63rd Cavalry
Commands	XII Corps
Awards	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal

Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, AVSM, VSM is a retired officer in the Indian Army. He last served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems & Training) and Colonel Commandant of the Defence Security Corps.

Biography and early life

Kapoor is a distinguished graduate of St. Stephen's College, Delhi University. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; Higher Defence Management College, Secunderabad; and the U.S. Army War College, Pennsylvania. He holds advanced degrees including an M.Phil. in Strategy and Security Studies from the University of Madras, a Master's in Strategic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's in Management Studies from Osmania University. ^[1]

Military career

Kapoor was commissioned into the elite 63 Cavalry, an armoured regiment of the Indian Army, in December 1987. ^{[1] [2]} He has over 37 years of service, with experience in diverse terrains including the Rann of Kutch and super high-altitude regions of the Eastern Sector. ^[1]

During his career, he has held various key command and staff appointments. He served as Advisor to the Botswana Defence Force, where he was instrumental in raising an Armoured Brigade and formulating doctrines for mechanized operations. ^[1] He also represented India as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Military Experts Working Group. ^[1]

He was promoted to Lieutenant General and took over as the General Officer Commanding of the prestigious Desert Corps on 7 March 2022, succeeding Lt Gen P S Minhas. ^[3] ,. He oversaw the "Suraksha Manthan 2022" on border and coastal security on 1 July 2022. ^{[4] [5]}

On 9 June 2023, he assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems & Coordination), succeeding Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar. ^[6] The position was later redesignated as Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems & Training). ^{[7] [8] [9]} He is also the Colonel Commandant of the Defence Security Corps. ^[10]

Awards and decorations

Kapoor's awards and decorations include:

• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2024) ^[2]
• Vishisht Seva Medal
• Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card ^[1]
• Strategic Forces Command Commendation Card ^[1]

References

1. "Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor - Speaker Details". Administrative Staff College of India. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
2. "75th Republic Day: President Approves Gallantry Awards to 80 Armed Forces Personnel". Press Information Bureau. 25 January 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
3. "Lt General Rakesh Kapoor takes charge as Commander of Desert Corps". Defence Watch. 7 March 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
4. "Indian Army Organises "Suraksha Manthan" on Border and Coastal Security". Press Information Bureau. 1 July 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
5. "Africa-India Joint Exercise AFINDEX Commences at Pune".
6. "Lt General Rakesh Kapoor assumed the appointment of the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, DCOAS (IS & C)". SP's Land Forces. 9 June 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
7. "Indian Army Commemorates 76th International Day of UN Peacekeepers". Press Information Bureau. 29 May 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
8. "Centre for UN Peacekeeping Hosts 'Conference on Women Peacekeepers'". Press Information Bureau. 24 February 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
9. "Indian Army to Host United Nations Troop Contributing Countries Chiefs Conclave". Press Information Bureau. 1 October 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
10. "Defence Security Corps". Ministry of Defence, India. Retrieved October 11, 2025.