During the Kargil War of 1999, who was serving as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army?

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from contemporary Indian military history. The Kargil War of 1999 between India and Pakistan in the high mountains of Jammu and Kashmir required strong leadership from the Indian armed forces. Knowing the key commanders is a common requirement in defence-related general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Time period: Kargil conflict, May–July 1999. • We are asked about the Chief of Army Staff of India at that time. • Only one of the given officers held that post during the Kargil War.

Concept / Approach:
General Ved Prakash Malik was the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army during the Kargil War. He played a crucial role in planning and overseeing "Operation Vijay", which successfully pushed back infiltrators and restored control over the occupied heights in the Kargil sector.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Kargil War took place in 1999 under the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Step 2: Remember the names of the service chiefs at that time. Step 3: General V. P. Malik was the Army Chief; Admiral Sushil Kumar headed the Navy; Air Chief Marshal A. Y. Tipnis led the Air Force. Step 4: Match this information with the options given. Step 5: Identify "General Ved Prakash Malik" as the correct answer for Chief of Army Staff.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official records and standard GK references on the Kargil War clearly list General V. P. Malik as the Army Chief. He is often quoted for statements emphasizing that the Indian Army would fight with whatever resources it had and still prevail. This confirms that choosing General Ved Prakash Malik is accurate for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option General Shankar Roy Chowdhury: He served as Army Chief before General Malik and had retired by the time of the Kargil conflict. Option General Nirmal Chandra Vij: He later became Chief of Army Staff but not during the Kargil War. Option Admiral Sushil Kumar: He was the Chief of Naval Staff, not the head of the Army. Option Air Chief Marshal Anil Yashwant Tipnis: He was the Chief of Air Staff and led the Indian Air Force during Kargil operations.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often remember the names of all three service chiefs but mix up which officer led which service. A simple memory tip is that "Malik" (Army), "Kumar" (Navy) and "Tipnis" (Air Force) formed the top defence leadership team during Kargil. Associating each name with the correct branch helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:
Therefore, during the Kargil War of 1999, the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army was General Ved Prakash Malik.