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hief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande, who was set to retire on May 31, has been granted a one-month extension by the central government.
NEW DELHI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande, who was set to retire on May 31, has been granted a one-month extension by the central government. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension of General Pande’s tenure on Sunday, May 26.
General Pande will now serve as Army Chief until June 30, 2024. According to the Ministry of Defense, Rule 16A(4) of the Army Rules, 1954 allows for such an extension.
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General Pande assumed the position of the 29th Chief of Army Staff on April 30, 2022, succeeding General Manoj Mukund Naravane. His extensive military career, spanning over forty years, has featured various command and staff roles in diverse operational settings. He led an Engineer Brigade in the Western Theatre as part of a Strike Corps, commanded an Infantry Brigade along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, oversaw a Mountain Division in the high-altitude region of Western Ladakh, and directed a Corps engaged along the Line of Actual Control and in counterinsurgency operations under the Eastern Command.
The current government has not yet named his successor, though the choice is largely believed to be between the two senior-most Army commanders: Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi and Lt Gen AK Singh.
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Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi is the current Vice Chief of Army Staff and has previously served as the Northern Army Commander. Lt Gen AK Singh, who was commissioned into the Gorkha Rifles, is currently the Southern Army Commander and is junior to Lt Gen Dwivedi. Both officers have distinguished careers and significant experience in various operational and strategic roles within the Indian Army.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in India is the highest-ranking military officer in the Indian Army, responsible for leading and overseeing the armed forces. The COAS is appointed by the President of India and serves a term of three years or until they reach the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
