New Delhi: General Upendra Dwivedi officially took over as the new Chief of the Indian Army on Sunday, bringing with him extensive experience in dealing with both the Chinese and Pakistani frontiers. He succeeds General Manoj Pande, who retired after over four decades of distinguished service.
As the Chief of Army Staff, he will also have to coordinate with the Navy and the Indian Air Force on the government's ambitious plan to roll out theatre commands. The Army said operational preparedness to counter security threats to a rising nation would figure prominently as a key focus area for the COAS.
“Concurrently, a focused response strategy, to myriad non-traditional security challenges, too shall be a priority, towards augmenting the nation's defence,” it said.
General Dwivedi, an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, was commissioned into the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles regiment in 1984. Notably, he and Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi were classmates at Sainik School Rewa, marking the first time in Indian military history that both the Navy and Army Chiefs hail from the same school. This unique distinction was highlighted by Defence Ministry spokesperson A. Bharat Bhushan Babu in a tweet, celebrating Sainik School Rewa’s role in nurturing two future military leaders.
Prior to becoming the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Dwivedi served as the Vice Chief of the Army since February 19, 2024. He also held the position of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command from 2022 to 2024.
The appointment of General Dwivedi is accompanied by significant changes in the top brass of the Indian Army. Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani will assume the role of Vice-Chief of Army Staff. Lt. Gen. Dhiraj Seth is set to become the Southern Commander, while Army Training Command Chief Lt. Gen. Manjinder Singh will head the South Western Army Command in Jaipur. Additionally, Lt. Gen. Anindya Sengupta will lead the Central Command in Lucknow upon promotion, and Lt. Gen. D. Sharma is expected to head the Training Command in Shimla.
General Dwivedi's extensive career spans nearly 40 years, featuring a balance of command and staff roles across Northern, Eastern, and Western theatres. His command appointments include leading the 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles regiment, the 26 Sector Assam Rifles brigade, and serving as Inspector General of Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps. As the Northern Army Commander, he provided strategic guidance for operations along the northern and western borders and played a crucial role in ongoing negotiations with China to resolve border issues. He also contributed to the modernisation and equipping of the Indian Army’s largest command, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.
In his new role, General Dwivedi will focus on operational preparedness to counter security threats in a dynamic global geo-strategic environment. The Indian Army emphasised that addressing non-traditional security challenges will also be a priority for the new COAS as it works to enhance the nation’s defence capabilities amidst technological advancements and evolving warfare dynamics.
