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{{Short description|22nd Director General of the Assam Rifles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| name = Vikas Lakhera
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|size=90%|AVSM|SM}}
| image = File:Lt General Vikas Lakhera AVSM SM.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Lakhera as [[Director General|DG]] [[Assam Rifles]]
| successor =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = {{army|India}}
| service_years = 9 June 1990 – present
| rank = [[File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg|22px]] [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| unit = [[Sikh Light Infantry|4 Sikh Light Infantry]]
| commands = [[Sikh Light Infantry|4 Sikh Light Infantry]]<br>[[Brigade|15th Infantry Brigade]]<br>[[Assam Rifles]]
| battles =
| mawards = {{plainlist|
* [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[Sena Medal]]
}}
| term_start = 01 August 2024
| office = [[Director General of the Assam Rifles]]
| preceded = [[Pradeep Chandran Nair]]
}}

[[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant general]] '''Vikas Lakhera,''' {{small|[[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]]}} is a serving officer of the [[Indian Army]] who was appointed the 22nd Director General of the [[Assam Rifles]] on 1 August 2024.<ref name="assamrifles">{{cite web |title=Director General Assam Rifles - DG Section |url=https://www.assamrifles.gov.in/dg-section |website=Assam Rifles |access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref><ref name="toi2024">{{cite web |title=Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera takes charge as Assam Rifles DG |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/lt-gen-vikas-lakhera-takes-charge-as-assam-rifles-dg/articleshow/112209290.cms |website=The Times of India |date=2 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Lakhera's hails from [[Uttarakhand]] ([[Tehri district]]) and attended [[D.A.V. Post Graduate College, Dehradun]] before joining the [[Indian Military Academy]].<ref name="pioneer">{{cite web |title=U'Khand general officer assumes command of DGAR |url=https://www.pioneeredge.in/ukhand-general-officer-assumes-command-of-dgar/ |website=The Pioneer Edge |date=2 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref>

His professional military education includes courses at the [[Defence Services Staff College]] (Wellington), the Higher Defence Management Course at the [[College of Defence Management]] ([[Secunderabad]]), and the National Defence Course at the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] (London). Civil and academic qualifications reported in media coverage include an [[M.Sc]]. from [[Madras University]], an [[Master of Arts|M.A]]. from [[King's College London]] and a Master in Management Studies from [[Osmania University]].<ref name="et">{{cite web |title=Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera takes over as Director General of Assam Rifles |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/lt-gen-vikas-lakhera-assumes-charge-as-director-general-of-assam-rifles/articleshow/112198223.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=1 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref>

== Military career ==
Vikas Lakhera was commissioned into the [[Sikh Light Infantry|4 Sikh Light Infantry]] on 9 June 1990 via 86th Regular Course.<ref name="et" /> He has served extensively in the northeastern region and in other operational theatres including Jammu & Kashmir.<ref name="toi2024" />

During his distinguished career, he has held several important command and staff appointments. He commanded his parent [[battalion]], 4 Sikh LI, in [[Assam|Lower Assam]] under the [[IV Corps (India)|Red Horn Division]], and later commanded an [[Brigade|Infantry Brigade]] at [[Sriganganagar]]. He subsequently served as the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) headquartered at Kohima, where he was responsible for overseeing counter-insurgency operations and internal security duties in Nagaland and adjoining areas. He also served as Additional Director General of Military Operations (ADGMO), being assigned at the Army Headquarters. His earlier staff appointments include serving as a Division Officer and Tactical Training Officer at the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], Deputy Military Advisor to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]], Director in the Military Operations Directorate, Deputy Commander of an Infantry Brigade, and Brigadier (Q) at Headquarters [[IV Corps (India)|4 Corps]].<ref name="et" /><ref name="defencewatch">{{cite web |title=Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera assumes charge as DG of Assam Rifles |url=https://www.defencewatch.in/defence-news/latest-defence-news/lt-gen-vikas-lakhera-assumes-charge-as-dg-of-assam-rifles |website=DefenceWatch |date=1 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref><ref name="echonews">{{cite web |title=Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera takes over as Director General of Assam Rifles |url=https://echoofarunachal.in/news_details.php?nid=27735 |website=Echo of Arunachal |date=1 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> His long association with the North-East and extensive operational experience in counter-insurgency operations have been highlighted in multiple official and media reports.<ref name="assamrifles" /><ref name="toi2024" /><ref name="et" />

On 1 August 2024, Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera assumed the appointment of Director General, Assam Rifles (DGAR), succeeding Lt Gen Pradeep Chandran Nair.<ref name="assamrifles" /><ref name="toi2024" /> As DGAR, he is the head of the Assam Rifles and is responsible for overseeing internal security, counter-insurgency, and border management operations in India's northeastern region.<ref name="assamrifles" /><ref name="orf">{{cite web |title=Conversation With Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera Director General Assam Rifles |url=https://www.orfonline.org/event/conversation-with-lt-gen-vikas-lakhera-director-general-assam-rifles |website=Observer Research Foundation |date=19 June 2025 |access-date=2025-06-19}}</ref>

== Awards and decorations ==
Lakhera has been awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]], India's second highest peacetime award. He was also awarded the [[Sena Medal]] for his gallantry actions in the military.<ref name="toi2024" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lakhera, Vikas}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian lieutenant generals]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's College London]]
[[Category:Osmania University alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sena Medal]]
[[Category:People from Tehri Garhwal district]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:College of Defence Management alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Vikas Lakhera - Revision history

Irshad. gori: Starting a stub!