Categories: AppointmentsCurrent AffairsDefence

Lt General Upendra Dwivedi Named New Army Chief

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi will take over as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on June 30. In his career of over 39 years, he has served as Northern Army Commander and Director General (DG) infantry amongst other appointments.

About Lt General Upendra Diwedi

Lt General Upendra Diwedi was born in 1964. Having studied at the Sainik School Rewa, National Defence College and US Army War College, Lt General Upendra Dwivedi 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 the US Army War College in Carlisle. The officer has an M Phil in Defence And Management Studies and two Master’s Degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science. He has also been decorated with three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.

He was commissioned into the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, an infantry regiment of the Indian Army on 15th December, 1984. In his 40 years of service, he has held a wide variety of roles. His Command appointments include Command of Regiment (18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles), Brigade (26 Sector Assam Rifles), DIG, Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps.

About his achievement

In his over 39 years of military service, Lt General Dwivedi commanded his unit in the Kashmir valley as well as in the Rajasthan sector. He 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. As the 30th Army Chief, Lt Gen Dwivedi would be taking over after stints as Vice Chief of Army Staff, Northern Army Commander (from 2022 to 2024), DG Infantry and many other command appointments in the force.
As Northern Army commander, Lt Gen Dwivedi provided strategic guidance and operational oversight for planning and execution of sustained operations along the northern and western borders, besides orchestrating the dynamic counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.