Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain has officially concluded his tenure as the Commandant of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, and has taken up his new appointment as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command, Pune. The transition was marked by warm congratulations from Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, GOC-in-C of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), and personnel across all ranks, who praised Lt Gen Jainโs exemplary leadership and contributions to military training.
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Lt Gen Jain, a veteran officer from the Mahar Regiment, became the 52nd Commandant of IMA on February 1, 2024. Over his 16-month tenure, he was instrumental in enhancing the standards of leadership development and officer training at one of Indiaโs premier military institutions. Established in 1932, IMA has long stood as a pillar in shaping the ethos and professional skills of Indiaโs military leaders.
Commissioned into the Indian Army in June 1988, Lt Gen Jainโs distinguished career spans over three decades. He has commanded a battalion in semi-developed terrain, led an infantry brigade in a strike corps, and headed a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir as a Major General. His international experience includes serving as a Sector Commander in a United Nations peacekeeping mission and as a military observer in Ethiopia. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the strategic 16 Corps. He has also held important staff roles in the Military Operations Directorate and the Military Secretaryโs Branch.
An alumnus of the National Defence College in Kenya, Lt Gen Jain has been honoured with the Sena Medal (SM), the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and the Chief of the Army Staffโs Commendation Card for his outstanding service to the nation.
In his new role at Southern Command, Lt Gen Jain joins a formation with a deep-rooted history in Indiaโs military legacy. Headquartered in Pune and currently led by Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, Southern Command has played a critical role in major post-independence operations, including Operation Polo in 1948 for the integration of Hyderabad, the liberation of Goa in 1961, and key battles in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.
Lt Gen Jainโs appointment as Chief of Staff is expected to further bolster Southern Commandโs operational preparedness and strategic planning. His wealth of experience and strong leadership credentials mark a significant addition to one of the Indian Armyโs most pivotal commands.
