Vice Chief of the Army Staff (India)

The Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces usually held by a three star Lieutenant General. As the second highest ranking officer in the Indian Army, the VCOAS serves as the deputy professional head of the Indian Army and the senior most Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief of the Army Staff. The VCOAS serves as the senior adviser to the Minister of Defence. The office holder is usually the second most senior army officer unless the Chief of Defence is an army officer.

The current VCOAS is Lieutenant GeneralSandeep Jain who assumed the office on 1 July 2026.