The Indian Army has appointed Lieutenant General Mohit Malhotra, AVSM, SM, as the next General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), South Western Command, one of the Army’s key operational commands responsible for safeguarding India’s western front.
Lt Gen Malhotra will assume command of the Jaipur-headquartered South Western Command on 1 July 2026, succeeding Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, who retires at the end of June.
An officer of the 47 Armoured Regiment, Lt Gen Malhotra was commissioned into the Indian Army on 10 June 1989 from the Indian Military Academy. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and a graduate of the prestigious Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom.
Currently serving as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, Lt Gen Malhotra previously commanded the strategically important XII Corps from June 2023 to June 2025. Earlier, he led the elite 1 Armoured Division (Airawat Division) and an Independent Armoured Brigade, besides commanding the 47 Armoured Regiment.
His distinguished staff appointments include service at an infantry brigade, a strike corps and an operational command. He has also served as the Additional Director General Strategic Communication at Army Headquarters, contributing significantly to the Army’s strategic communications framework.
In addition to his operational responsibilities, Lt Gen Malhotra currently serves as the Colonel of the Regiment of the Armoured Corps, reflecting his longstanding association with one of the Indian Army’s premier combat arms.
A highly decorated officer, Lt Gen Malhotra has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Sena Medal (SM) for distinguished and exceptional service. He is also the recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Commendation and the Army Commander Commendation, in addition to several campaign, service and long-service medals earned during his distinguished military career.
His appointment as Army Commander forms part of the Indian Army’s routine senior leadership rotation and brings to the South Western Command an experienced operational commander with over 37 years of service, extensive command experience and expertise in armoured warfare, operational planning and strategic leadership.
As the new GOC-in-C, Lt Gen Malhotra will oversee operational preparedness, training, force modernisation and security responsibilities across the South Western Command, reinforcing the Indian Army’s commitment to maintaining a high state of readiness along India’s western frontiers.
