New Delhi, India: The Indian government has announced the appointment of Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, as the next Chief of the Army Staff, effective from the afternoon of June 30, 2024. He is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. This transition will follow the retirement of the current Chief, General Manoj C Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, who will demit office on the same date.  

Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, has a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades. He has held several key positions, including General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command and Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination). Before these roles, he served as the General Officer Commanding IX Corps.  

Strategic Appointments and Educational Background  

Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on December 15, 1984, from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. His academic journey includes attending the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Higher Command Course at the Army War College, Mhow.

Throughout his career, Lt. Gen. Dwivedi has commanded various units across different operational environments. He led a battalion at Chowkibal in Kashmir Valley during Operation Rakshak and in the deserts of Rajasthan. In Manipur, he commanded a sector of the Assam Rifles during Operation Rhino and served as Inspector General, Assam Rifles, in Assam.  

His career also includes key staff appointments in Headquarters Armoured Brigade, Mountain Division, Strike Corps, and Integrated HQ, MoD (Army). As an instructor at the Indian Military Academy and a directing staff member at the higher command wing in the Army War College, he has shaped future military leaders. His overseas tenures include service in Somalia with HQ UNOSOM II and as a military attaché to the government of Seychelles.  

Technology and Modernization Initiatives  

In February 2020, Lt. Gen. Dwivedi was appointed commander of IX Corps. In April 2021, he became the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination). In this role, he emphasized the automation and integration of niche technologies in the Indian Army.

On February 1, 2022, he assumed the role of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, succeeding Lt. Gen. Yogesh Kumar Joshi. As the head of Northern Command, he focused on enhancing technological capabilities, advocating for critical and emerging technologies like big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain solutions. His leadership in Northern Command was instrumental in modernizing and equipping the largest Army Command under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.  

Lt. Gen. Dwivedi’s appointment as the next Chief of the Army Staff is a testament to his extensive experience and strategic vision. His career reflects a unique blend of operational expertise, educational achievements, and a forward-looking approach to military modernization. As he prepares to assume the highest military position, his leadership is expected to steer the Indian Army towards new heights of excellence and operational readiness.