Patna, Mar 14: In a significant ceremonial transition, Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain was sworn in as the 30th Governor of Bihar on Saturday at Lok Bhavan in Patna. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, senior ministers and top officials.

A distinguished former officer of the Indian Army, Hasnain replaced Arif Mohammed Khan as the Governor of the state.
Known widely for his long and impactful service in Jammu and Kashmir, Hasnain spent more than 15 years serving in the region, where he played a key role in handling complex security challenges while strengthening ties between the Army and the local population.
During his tenure in Kashmir, particularly while commanding the strategic XV Corps, he introduced several initiatives aimed at building trust between the armed forces and civilians. His efforts to promote education, sports and employment opportunities for youth were widely appreciated across communities.
These outreach programmes significantly improved Army–public relations and helped bridge the gap between security forces and local residents.
Because of his people-centric approach and accessibility, Hasnain earned the affectionate title of “People’s General” in Kashmir — a recognition he says remains one of the greatest compliments of his career.
Speaking to the media after the oath taking ceremony, Governor Hasnain expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility.
“I’m honoured that the Prime Minister nominated me to be the Governor of such an important state as Bihar. My compliments and greetings to the people of Bihar on the day I took the oath. My whole focus will be on being committed to the people,” he said.
Reflecting on his years in Kashmir, Hasnain said being called the “People’s General” was a matter of pride. “It is a perfect compliment. I feel proud that people in Kashmir gave me that title”.
Hasnain served nearly four decades in the Indian Army, holding several key positions including Military Secretary.
After retirement, he continued public service as a member of the National Disaster Management Authority from 2020 and earlier served as Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir.
Observers believe his deep experience in leadership, administration and community engagement — especially his widely appreciated work in Kashmir — could bring a fresh and people-focused perspective to governance in Bihar.