Purna Chandra Thapa

{{Short description|Nepalese Army general}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = General

| name = Purna Chandra Thapa

| native_name = महारथी श्री
पूर्णचन्द्र थापा

| native_name_lang = ne

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|9|9}}

| death_date =

| birth_place = Lamjung District, Nepal

| death_place =

| image = COAS General Purna Chandra Thapa (Nepali Army).jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| office = Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepalese Army

| term_start1 = 9 September 2018{{cite news | url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-09-10/thapa-sworn-in-as-new-army-chief.html | title=Thapa sworn in as new Army chief | date=10 September 2018 | work=Kathmandu Post | accessdate=18 January 2019 }}

| term_end1 = 9 September 2021

| president1 = Bidhya Devi Bhandari

| deputy1 = Hemanta Raj Kunwar as Chief of General Staff

| preceded1 = Rajendra Kshatri

| succeeded1 = Prabhu Ram Sharma

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flag|Nepal}}

| branch = 25 px Nepal Army

| serviceyears = 1980–2021

| rank = 30px General

| commands = Shri Shrijung Battalion

| battles =

| awards =

| signature =

}}

General Purna Chandra Thapa ({{langx|ne|पूर्णचन्द्र थापा}}; born 9 September 1960) was the Chief of Army Staff in the Nepalese Army until 2021. He served as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force from 19 January 2015 until 7 February 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/undof/leadership.shtml|title=UNDOF Leadership|accessdate=25 January 2015|publisher=Un.org}}

Thapa's tenure as COAS of Nepal Army was characterised by many important structural changes. Thapa vowed to get rid of corruption, nepotism and other unlawful activities in the army.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Good job Nepal Army!|date=|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/good-job-nepal-army/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Nepal Army launches probe against 27 over irregularities in recruitment process|date=|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-army-launches-probe-against-27-over-irregularities-in-the-recruitment-process/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} Due to corruption allegations against former Chief Rajendra Chhetri, Thapa even went ahead and made all his property details public in order to demonstrate his anti-corruption stance.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=NA unveils Army Chief's property details|date=|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/na-website-unveils-army-chief-s-property-details/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} Thapa also promised to provide equal opportunities to everyone serving in the army, and has been an advocate for digitalisation of Nepal Army.

With his retirement on 8 September 2021; herewith comes a legacy of 18th Generation of Continuous Service by General Purna Chandra Thapa's family.{{Cite web|title=जंगी अड्डामा सुधार सुरू गरेर बिदा भएका प्रधान सेनापति थापा|url=https://www.setopati.com/social/245576/|access-date=2021-08-09|website=Setopati}}