A post-graduate from the prestigious IIT Chennai, Lt Gen Chari was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers in 1967. During the Young Officers Course in 1968 at the College of Military Engineering, Pune, he was awarded the "Silver Grenade" for standing first. As a young captain, he took active part in the 1971 War in mine-clearing, road construction and water supply operations in the desert. Gen Chari did ME from Pune University with distinction and owing to his brilliant performance in the Post Graduate Mechanical Engineering Course he was posted as Assistant Professor in the College of Military Engineering, Pune. He taught under-graduate engineers and post-graduate students of the Corps of Engineers, EME and Signals of the

    As Controller, Controllerate of Quality Assurance (Special Vehicles) Pune in 1998, the officer spearheaded the indigenisation by reverse engineering of a large number of systems, sub systems and spares of imported armoured fighting /special vehicles of east European origin which resulted in savings of valuable foreign exchange.

    Gen Chari also held the prestigious appointment of Technical Adviser to Director General of Quality Assurance for five years and made immense contribution in policy, planning and training relating to quality assurance. The officer also underwent specialized training abroad in the mechanically launched bridge system, which was later produced indigenously in the country. He was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for his invaluable contribution in the indigenisation efforts.