Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, AVSM, SM, relinquished command of the Southern Command on 30 June 2026, marking the conclusion of his tenure as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Command, before assuming the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) with effect from 1 July 2026.
On the occasion, Lt Gen Jain paid homage to the nation’s Bravehearts by laying a wreath at the Southern Command War Memorial in Pune. He later reviewed a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Headquarters Southern Command, marking the formal conclusion of his command.
Addressing all ranks of the Southern Command in his farewell message, Lt Gen Jain urged every soldier to remain mission-ready, maintain uncompromising operational preparedness and stay prepared to respond decisively to emerging and evolving security challenges. He emphasised the importance of professionalism, vigilance and operational excellence in safeguarding the nation’s interests.
During his tenure, Lt Gen Jain led one of the Indian Army’s largest operational commands with a strong focus on combat readiness, force modernisation, technological integration and troop welfare, reinforcing Southern Command’s role as a key pillar of India’s defence preparedness.
With effect from 1 July 2026, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain assumes the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff, bringing with him decades of operational experience and strategic leadership to the Indian Army’s second-highest
