Lt General Upendra Dwivedi appointed the new Indian Army chief

The newly elected Narendra Modi-led central government has announced Lt General Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).

Lt Gen Dwivedi will take charge from the current Army chief, General Manoj Pande, on June 30, a statement issued by the Defense Ministry said.

General Pande was due to retire on May 31 but was given a one-month extension. The term for the Army Chief concludes either after three years in the role or upon reaching the age of 62, whichever comes first. Presently,

"(The) government has appointed Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of June 30, 2024," Defense Ministry spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu said in a post on X.

Currently serving as the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, Lt General Dwivedi, has extensive operational experience along the frontiers with China and Pakistan.

Lt General Dwivedi, who was commissioned into the 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on December 18, 1984 has served in military service for over 39 years. He has commanded the same unit in the Kashmir valley as well as in the Rajasthan sector.

An alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, Lt General Dwivedi has also served as Sector Commander and Inspector General (IG) of Assam Rifles in the North East sector of the country.

Lt Gen Dwivedi has also served as deputy chief at Army Headquarters and headed the 9th Corps in Himachal Pradesh.

Before Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Dwivedi held various roles including, Northern Army Commander (from 2022 to 2024), DG Infantry and many other command appointments in the force.

Born on July 1, 1964, Dwivedi has been honored with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and three General officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) Commendation Cards.