 During the disquieting period of partition he handled the division of the Army and sharing of its assets between the two new nations as the officer in charge.On 30 July 1947, Cariappa was promoted to the rank of major-general, becoming one of the first Indians to be promoted to this rank in a combat arm of the Indian Army, along with brigadiers Muhammad Akbar Khan and Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja.Post-Independence, Cariappa was appointed as deputy chief of the general staff.