General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM AVSM ADC (born 1 July 1964) is a serving four star general officer of the Indian Army. He is the current and 30th Chief of the Army Staff.[5][6] He took over as the 30th COAS succeeding General Manoj Pande on 30 June 2024.[7] He was previously serving as the 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff.[8] Earlier he was tenanting the appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command,[9] prior to that he served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination)[10] and as the General Officer Commanding IX Corps.[11]
Upendra Dwivedi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official potrait, 2024 | |
| 30th Chief of the Army Staff | |
| Assumed office 30 June 2024 | |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Preceded by | Manoj Pande |
| 46th Vice Chief of the Army Staff | |
| In office 19 February 2024 – 30 June 2024 | |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Chief of Army Staff | Manoj Pande |
| Preceded by | M. V. Suchindra Kumar |
| Succeeded by | N. S. Raja Subramani |
| General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command | |
| In office 1 February 2022 – 18 February 2024 | |
| Chief of Army Staff | Manoj Mukund Naravane Manoj Pande |
| Preceded by | Yogesh Kumar Joshi |
| Succeeded by | M. V. Suchindra Kumar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1964 [1] Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Spouse | Sunita Dwivedi [2] |
| Alma mater | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Army |
| Years of service | 15 December 1984 – present [3] |
| Rank |  General |
| Unit | 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles |
| Commands | |
| Service number | IC-42298W [4] |
| Awards | |
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Early life and education
editGen Dwivedi is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa. He joined Sainik School, Rewa in July 1973 where he was classmates with the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and passed out from the school in 1981.[12] He attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and then the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was an outstanding sportsman and excelled in both NDA and IMA, where he was awarded the Blue in Physical Training. He continued to excel post commissioning and was awarded the gold medal in the Physical Training Course. He also attended Defence Services Staff College, Wellington & Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow. He was conferred Distinguished Fellow in the coveted NDC equivalent course at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, USA. He has a M. Phil. degree in Defence & Management Studies, in addition to the two Masters Degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science, including one from United States Army War College. He has authored / presented articles in various professional forums / Journals.[2]
Military career
editGen Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on 15 December 1984 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.[13] He has commanded a battalion at Chowkibal in Kashmir Valley during Operation Rakshak and the deserts of Rajasthan, a sector of the Assam Rifles in Manipur during Operation Rhino, served in Assam as Inspector General, Assam Rifles and held various other Staff & Command appointments in the North East. He has had a unique distinction of balanced exposure of both Northern and Western Theatres.[14]
During his illustrious career spanning over 39 years, has tenanted various staff appointments in Headquarter Armoured Brigade, Mountain Division, Strike Corps and Integrated HQ, MoD (Army). Among his previous appointments were as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Directing Staff at the Higher Command Wing in the Army War College, he shaped the future generations of the three services and Friendly Foreign Countries. The general officer's two overseas tenures include Somalia, as part of HQ UNOSOM II and Military attaché to the Government of Seychelles. He has been IGAR (East) and Sector Cdr Assam Rifles in intense CT Ops and held various other Staff & Command appointments in the North East where he pioneered the first ever compendium on Indo - Myanmar Border Management. Later as Director General Infantry he steered and fast-tracked Capital procurement cases of weapons for all the three services, leading to significant & visible capability enhancement for our Armed Forces.[2]
In February 2020, Gen Dwivedi was appointed commander of IX Corps.[11] A year later in April 2021, he took over as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination).[10] As DCOAS (IS&C), the officer gave impetus to automation and absorption of niche tech in the Indian Army.[2]
On 1 February 2022, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command,[9] he assumed the post upon superannuation of Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi. Gen Dwivedi being a technology enthusiast, he worked towards enhancing the tech-threshold of all ranks in Northern Command and pushed for critical & emerging Technologies like big data analytics, artificial Intelligence, quantum and blockchain based solutions. He was also involved in modernisation and equipping of the largest Army Command of Indian Army, where he steered the induction of Indigenous equipment as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He synergised with people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for convergent nation building outcomes and infrastructure development.[2]
On 19 February 2024, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff from Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar, who was appointed as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.[8]
Chief of the Army Staff
editOn 11 June 2024, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of Army Staff.[7] On 30 June 2024, General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff succeeding General Manoj Pande, who superannuated after more than four decades of service to the nation.[5]
Personal life
editThe General Officer is married to Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, a science graduate, who is a homemaker. Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi has been associated with Aarushi, an Institute for specially abled children, at Bhopal. The couple are blessed with two daughters who are working with NGOs. General Dwivedi is a skilled Yoga practitioner.[2]
Awards and decorations
editThe general officer was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024[15] and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021.[16] Gen Dwivedi has been awarded three GOC-in-C Commendation cards.[2]
 
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Dates of rank
edit| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Second Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 December 1984[13] |
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Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 December 1986[17] |
|
Captain | Indian Army | 15 December 1989[18] |
|
Major | Indian Army | 15 December 1995[19] |
|
Lieutenant Colonel | Indian Army | 16 December 2004[20] |
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Colonel | Indian Army | 1 April 2006[21] |
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Brigadier | Indian Army | 13 June 2011 (acting) 17 October 2011 (substantive, with seniority from 30 March 2010)[22] |
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Major General | Indian Army | 1 December 2016 (seniority from 1 February 2015)[23] |
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Lieutenant General | Indian Army | 15 July 2019[24] |
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General
(COAS) |
Indian Army | 30 June 2024[25] |
References
edit- ^ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2024481
- ^ a b c d e f g https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/general-upendra-dwivedi--30-jun-2024-to-till-date-chief-of-the-army-staff-leaders-site-main
- ^ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1999669
- ^ a b "GENERAL UPENDRA DWIVEDI TAKES OVER AS THE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF". Press Information Bureau. 30 June 2024.
- ^ "General Upendra Dwivedi takes charge as the 30th Army chief". The Times of India. 30 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi appointed as next Chief of the Army Staff w.e.f. afternoon of June 30, 2024". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ a b "LIEUTENANT GENERAL UPENDRA DWIVEDI TAKES OVER AS VICE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF FROM LIEUTENANT GENERAL MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge of Army's Northern Command". ANI. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has taken over as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff(IS &C)". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi is new commander of Rising Star Corps". Hindustan Times. 2020 [17 February].
- ^ "Sainik School Rewa celebrates its alumni -- Vice-Chiefs of Army & Navy". The Times of India. 21 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 17 December 1988. p. 1854.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff". India Today. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry and distinguished awards to Army" (PDF). pib.gov.in. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". Press Information Bureau. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 10 June 1989. p. 802.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 19 January 1991. p. 144.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 13 April 1996. p. 555.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1910.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 February 2009. p. 259.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 22 March 2014. p. 437.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 April 2022. p. 759.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 24 October 2020. p. 1670.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 5 October 2024. p. 3496.