NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday announced that Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi will be the next chief of the Army Staff succeeding incumbent Gen Manoj Pande. Dwivedi is presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The tenure of the present Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj C Pande, ends on June 30.
The government has followed the seniority principle in appointing Lt Gen Dwivedi, who was commissioned into the 18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles in December 1984.
Earlier on May 26, the government had made a surprising decision by extending Gen Pande’s tenure by a month, a mere six days before his scheduled retirement. This unconventional action fueled rumors that a potential supersession within the military ranks was imminent. The move deviated from the typical protocol, where such decisions are usually made well in advance of an officer’s retirement date.
Here’s all you need to know about new Army chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi:
The government has followed the seniority principle in appointing Lt Gen Dwivedi, who was commissioned into the 18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles in December 1984.
Earlier on May 26, the government had made a surprising decision by extending Gen Pande’s tenure by a month, a mere six days before his scheduled retirement. This unconventional action fueled rumors that a potential supersession within the military ranks was imminent. The move deviated from the typical protocol, where such decisions are usually made well in advance of an officer’s retirement date.
Here’s all you need to know about new Army chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi:
- Born on July 1, 1964, Sanjeev Kumar Dwivedi is a alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa. He began his military career on December 15, 1984, when he was commissioned into the 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles of the Indian Army.
- During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a variety of command, staff, instructional and foreign appointments. The command appointments of Lt Gen Dwivedi include command of regiment (18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles), Brigade (26 Sector Assam Rifles), Inspector General, Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps.
- Lt Gen Dwivedi shares his alma mater with the newly appointed Navy chief, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi. Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, a graduate of the National Defence College and the US Army War College, has also completed training at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the Army War College in Mhow. In addition to his military education, the general holds an MPhil in defence and management studies. He has also earned two Masters’ Degrees, one in Strategic Studies and another in Military Science.
- With his extensive experience, particularly during his two-year stint as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) of the Northern Command, Lt Gen Dwivedi possesses a deep understanding of the challenges posed by both China and Pakistan. Lt Gen Dwivedi, as the head of the Northern Command, was responsible for offering “strategic guidance and operational oversight” in the planning and execution of continuous operations along the northern and western borders shared with China and Pakistan. Furthermore, he supervised counter-terrorism efforts in the J&K region.
- He has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.
(With PTI inputs)