In a recent announcement, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff.
He is set to assume his new role on February 15, taking over from Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, who will be moving to take up the position of Northern Army Commander in Udhampur.
Lt Gen Dwivedi is poised to become the senior-most officer following Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande’s retirement on May 31 this year.
His extensive military career began with his commission into the 18th battalion of the Regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (JAK Rifles) in December 1984, following his graduation from the National Defence Academy (NDA).
Before his new appointment, Lt Gen Dwivedi has had a distinguished career, serving as the Northern Army Commander since February 2022. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff for a year.
With a career spanning over 39 years, he has held a variety of command, staff, and instructional positions, notably taking charge as the Corps Commander of the Rising Star Corps, also known as IX Corps, at Yol Cantonment in Himachal Pradesh in 2020.
Lt Gen Dwivedi has also commanded his battalion in the challenging terrain of the Kashmir Valley and served with the Assam Rifles as Inspector General. His staff roles have included positions in the Armoured Brigade, Directorate General of Military Operations, Military Secretary Branch, and Divisional Corps Headquarters.
Further enriching his profile, Lt Gen Dwivedi has served as director, General Infantry, and completed two overseas tenures in Somalia and the Seychelles.
His appointment as Vice Chief of Army Staff marks a significant step in his illustrious career, reflecting his vast experience and dedication to the Indian Army.
