Patna: Retired Indian army officer Syed Ata Hasnain was sworn in as the new governor of Bihar on Saturday at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Patna.
The oath of office was administered by Sangam Kumar Sahu, chief justice of the Patna High Court, in the presence of senior state leaders and officials.
Among those attending the ceremony were the chief minister, Nitish Kumar, and deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary, along with other members of the state government.
Hasnain had arrived in Patna on March 12 ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. On his arrival, he was received at the airport by Prem Kumar, the speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the state government.
Officials said administrative and security arrangements had been put in place in advance to ensure the smooth conduct of the ceremony at Lok Bhavan.
Hasnain served in the Indian Army for nearly four decades, holding several senior positions during his career. He is widely known for his role in operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Between 2012 and 2014, he served as the commander of the XV Corps (Chinar Corps), headquartered in Srinagar, where he oversaw counter-terrorism operations and security efforts in the region.
During his tenure, Hasnain also promoted a “hearts and minds” approach aimed at building trust with local communities and encouraging young people to engage in education, sports and employment initiatives.
After retiring from the army, he remained active in public life and was appointed a member of the National Disaster Management Authority. He also served as chancellor of the University of Kashmir.
