Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi Appointed as Next Army Chief

Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, at present serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will be the next Chief of the Army Staff, the government announced on Tuesday night. The officer will take charge from Gen Manoj C Pande who demits office at the end of this month.

Gen Pande was on a one-month extension as the government had put off the appointment of the next Army Chief as the election process was underway. Gen Dwivedi was the senior most officer in line for the position.

Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi was commissioned into the Infantry (Jammu & Kashmir Rifles) of the Indian Army on December 15, 1984. The officer has had important appointments including that of Director General Infantry and General Officer Commanding in Chief (Headquarter Northern Command) from 2022-2024, before getting appointed as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.


An alumnus of the Sainik School Rewa, National Defence College and US Army War College, Lt Gen Dwivedi has also undergone courses at the DSSC Wellington and Army War College, Mhow. The officer has an M Phil in Defence and Management Studies and two Master's Degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science.

He has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.