Leadership
Governor
Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retd.)
His Excellency, the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
- Date of Birth
- 28 June 1953
- Education
- NDA Khadakvasla, IMA Dehradun, Defence Services Staff College, National Defence College
- Assumed Office
- 16 February 2023
- spouse
- Smt. Anagha Parnaik
Last updated: 7 March 2026
About the Governor
Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retd.) is the 20th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. A highly decorated third-generation army officer, he served the Indian Army with distinction for over four decades before being appointed Governor by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on 12 February 2023.
He also serves as Chancellor of Arunachal Pradesh University, Chief Rector of Rajiv Gandhi University, and President of the NERIST Society.
Distinguished Military Career
Commissioned on 31 March 1972 into the 2nd Battalion, The Rajputana Rifles, Lt. General Parnaik rose through the ranks commanding units at every level — from battalion to Army Command — in some of India's most operationally demanding theatres including Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, and the North East. He also served in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Angola and headed the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) in Bhutan.
His most prominent military appointment was as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command (2011–2013), where he oversaw operations along both the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China — the first officer from Maharashtra to hold this position.
Military Honours
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) — For distinguished service as Northern Army Commander
- Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) — For Operation Rhino
- Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) — For command of an Infantry Brigade during Operation Parakram
Key Commands & Appointments
| Position | Theatre |
|---|---|
| Commanding Officer, 2 Raj Rif | Rajasthan & Jammu and Kashmir |
| Commander, Infantry Brigade | Kupwara Sector, J&K |
| GOC, 17 Mountain Division | Sikkim |
| Head, Indian Military Training Team | Bhutan |
| GOC, IV Corps | Tezpur, North East India |
| GOC-in-C, Northern Command | Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir |
Vision for Arunachal Pradesh
As Governor, Lt. General Parnaik has championed a vision of holistic development for the state, identifying education, health, hydropower, and tourism as the four pillars driving Arunachal Pradesh's progress. He has been a strong advocate for the state's role in India's clean energy future.
"Arunachal Pradesh plays a vital role in India's clean energy future, with 1.2 GW of hydropower capacity operational and 4.8 GW under construction. The state government has declared 2025–2035 as the 'Decade of Hydropower' to ensure sustainable, community-centric growth."
He has also emphasised that security, development, diplomacy, and community empowerment must progress simultaneously through a whole-of-nation approach to ensure deterrence, stability, and lasting control along Arunachal Pradesh's sensitive frontier.
Department of Hydropower Development, Arunachal Pradesh