Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi. (Photo: Indian Army)
New Delhi: In a major development for the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has been officially designated as the next vice-chief of the Army staff. Lt Gen Dwivedi is currently serving as the Northern Army commander.
He will assume this crucial role on February 15 from Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, who will become the next Northern Army commander.
Lt Gen Dwivedi brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He is an alumnus of the Sainik School, Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Lt Gen Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th battalion of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles on December 15, 1984 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He commanded a battalion at Chowkibal during Operation Rakshak, a sector of the Assam Rifles in Manipur during Operation Rhino, and served in assam as the Assam Rifle’s inspector general in Assam Rifles
Some of his previous appointments were as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, directing staff at the higher command wing in the Army War College, military attaché to the government of Seychelles and as director-general of infantry. He was appointed commander of IX Corps (also called Rising Star Corps) in February 2020, and as deputy chief of the Army staff (information systems and coordination) in April 2021.
As the Indian Army undergoes leadership transitions, Lt Gen Dwivedi’s appointment assumes critical importance.
It may be noted that the Indian Army chief, Gen Manoj Pande, the Indian Navy chief, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, and the Indian Air Force chief, Vivek Ram Chaudhari, are scheduled to superannuate in the coming months. Lt Gen Dwivedi’s current appointment is seen as the next step to promote him as the next Army chief.
