New Army chief takes charge
New Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande (left), takes over as the Chief of Defence Staff from General M.M. Naravane who retired on Saturday.
General Manoj Pande, on Saturday took over as the 29th Chief of Army Staff, following the superannuation of General M.M. Naravane.
General Pande, who was serving as Vice Chief of Army Staff is the first-ever officer commissioned into the Corps of Engineers to become the Army chief. The top position has been traditionally held by officers from fighting arms of Indian army: Infantry, Armoured and Artillery.
General Pande, is taking over at a time when India is in a military stand-off with China since the past two years in Ladakh sector.
Chinese military has also been rapidly building up its infrastructure all along the Line of Actual Control and has deployed heavy weapon systems and its troops at advance positions. The current Russia-Ukraine conflict will also result in heightened geo-political tensions.
He will also have to coordinate with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force on the government’s plan to roll out theatre commands. The theatre commands were to be carved out by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in coordination with army, navy and Air Force. However, there is still no clarity when government will appoint the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Gen Pande had previously headed Indian Army’s crucial Eastern Command looking after LAC with China in North-East and has also served as Commander-inChief of India’s only tri-services command Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN).