Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi appointed next army chief

The government on Tuesday appointed vice chief of army staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi as the next army chief, succeeding General Manoj Pande.

Earlier last month, in an unusual move, the government had extended the tenure of Pande, who was to retire on 31 May, by a month.

Dwivedi will take charge on 30 June upon Pande’s retirement. 

Born on 1 July 1964, Dwivedi was commissioned into the infantry (Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) of the Indian Army on 15 December 1984. 

“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,” the ministry of defence said in a statement. 

In the rank of Lt Gen, Dwivedi has tenanted important appointments including that of director general infantry and general officer commanding in chief (headquarter Northern Command) from 2022-24, before getting appointed as the vice chief of army staff.

Dwivedi is an alumnus of the Sainik School Rewa, National Defence College, and US Army War College. He has also undergone courses at the DSSC Wellington and Army War College, Mhow. 

He was conferred ‘Distinguished Fellow’ in the coveted NDC equivalent course at USAWC, Carlisle, USA. Dwivedi has an M.Phil. in defence and management studies and two master’s degrees in strategic studies and military science.