General Upendra Dwivedi Appointed as New Chief of the Indian Army, Succeeding General Manoj Pande

General Upendra Dwivedi has assumed the role of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, succeeding General Manoj Pande, who had been in the position since May 2022. Before this appointment, General Dwivedi served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. He also holds three commendation cards from General Officers Commanding-in-Chief.

Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, General Dwivedi’s military career began at Sainik School Rewa, followed by the National Defence Academy (NDA), which he joined in January 1981. He was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in December 1984 and later commanded this battalion in various terrains, including Kashmir valley and the Rajasthan deserts.

Known for his athletic prowess, he excelled in physical training during his time at the NDA and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), earning accolades such as a gold medal in the physical training course.

General Dwivedi has extensive experience across multiple operational theatres, including the northern, western, and eastern regions of India. His leadership roles have included commanding his battalion in counter-terrorist operations, serving as Inspector General of Assam Rifles (IGAR-GOC), and compiling a comprehensive guide on Indo-Myanmar border management.

He has also held significant staff and command positions, contributing to strategic military operations in various challenging environments.

During his tenure as the commander of the Rising Star Corps and later the Northern Army from 2022 to 2024, General Dwivedi provided crucial strategic guidance for operations along India’s northern and western borders.

His leadership was instrumental in modernizing the Indian Army’s largest command, promoting the induction of indigenous equipment in alignment with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. His broad range of staff roles includes overseeing conventional operations, logistical support, and strike operations across diverse terrains.

General Dwivedi’s international experience includes serving with the United Nations in Somalia and acting as a Military Advisor in Seychelles. He is married to Sunita Dwivedi, who is actively involved with Aarushi, an institute for differently-abled children.

The couple has two daughters, and General Dwivedi is also noted for his skills in yoga. The outgoing COAS, General Manoj Pande, was the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to hold the position, and his distinguished career included commanding an engineer regiment during Operation Parakram.