Ending days of speculation, the government on Tuesday is understood to have selected Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag as the 26th chief of the Indian Army.
He will take over from the incumbent Gen Bikram Singh on August 1.
The Defence Ministry, however, did not issue any formal communication on the appointment till the time of filing the report, late on Tuesday evening.
Sources said the Congress-led UPA-II government went ahead with the appointment after it got a green signal from the Election Commission that ruled appointments in the defence ministry did not come under the Model Code of Conduct.
A seasoned infantry officer, Lt Gen Suhag is currently the vice-chief of the Army. Previously he was the general officer commanding in charge of the Eastern Army Command in Kolkata and commander of 3 Corps at Dimapur.
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