[3] Chand was born in Kottarakkara, Kerala and is the son of late N. Prabhakaran Nair and G. Saradamma.

He has vast experience spanning over 38 years and has served in all operational theatres and held active combat leadership role at every stage of command.

He has also commanded a battalion in Operation Rhino, targeted at infiltrators in Assam and Operation Falcon, along the Line of Actual control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh; an infantry brigade in the desert, a counter-insurgency force in the Kashmir valley, IV Corps (Tezpur) and GOC-C South Western Command (Jaipur).

In addition, he has held numerous staff and instructional appointments including instructor of the commando wing in infantry school .

[7] He assumed the office of VCOAS on 13 January 2017 after General Bipin Rawat was promoted to Chief of Army Staff (COAS).