[3] He was born on 10 April 1955 to Kasturi Devi and C H Roopchand in Bahrai village of Jhajjar district, Haryana.

[3][5][6][7] He completed his primary education in his native village and then moved to Sainik School, Bijapur, Karnataka for his secondary education in 1967 before joining the National Defence Academy in 1972.

He has also attended United Nations Peace Support Mission Planning Course, at Nairobi, Kenya, International Humanitarian Law Course at International Institute of Humanitarian Law San Remo, Italy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi.

He commanded the Chinar Corps and was awarded the Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal.

The General has received the following medals and decorations throughout his military career:[8][5]