The Cabinet promoted Chhetri as incumbent CoAS Gaurav SJB Rana will take leave one month before he retires in the second week of September. Rana is scheduled to hand over the charge to Chhetri amid a ceremony at the Army Headquarters on Monday, NA spokesperson Brig Gen Jagadish Chandra Pokharel said. Chhetri will take full charge as the Army chief on September 10, the day Rana completes his three-year tenure.

As per the tradition of going on a leave a month prior to retirement, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who is also in charge of the Defence Ministry, approved Rana's leave effective from Tuesday. Chhetri will serve as the CoAS until September, 2018. He was promoted from a major general to lieutenant general on February 25. The Cabinet elevated him to the post that was vacant after Pawan Bahadur Pandey retired on February 2.

Chhetri, who joined the Army as a lieutenant on October 24, 1978, was promoted to major general in November 2011. Born on November 16, 1960, he is a 15th batch cadet. Chhetri, who attended the war college in the United States, is considered a fair and competent general. He was the chief of general staff, assigned to look after intelligence and operations in the Army, before he was deputed chief of staff (CoS) two weeks ago in place of Lt Gen Baldev Raj Mahat who got the CoGS charge. Those in line to become the CoAS get to serve as the CoS before being promoted as the commander of the national Army.