Upendra Dwivedi
Upendra Dwivedi | |
---|---|
30th Chief of the Army Staff | |
Assumed office 30 June 2024 | |
President | Droupadi Murmu |
Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
Preceded by | Manoj Pande |
46th Vice Chief of the Army Staff | |
In office 19 February 2024 – 30 June 2024 | |
President | Droupadi Murmu |
Chief of Army Staff | Manoj Pande |
Preceded by | M. V. Suchindra Kumar |
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command | |
In office 1 February 2022 – 18 February 2024 | |
Chief of Army Staff | Manoj Mukund Naravane Manoj Pande |
Preceded by | Yogesh Kumar Joshi |
Succeeded by | M. V. Suchindra Kumar |
Personal details | |
Born | [1] | 1 July 1964
Spouse | Sunita Dwivedi [2] |
Military service | |
Allegiance | India |
Branch/service | Indian Army |
Years of service | 15 December 1984 – present [3] |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Unit | 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles |
Commands | Northern Command IX Corps |
Service number | IC-42298W [4] |
Awards | |
Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi PVSM, AVSM (born 1 July 1964) is the incoming Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. He currently serving as the 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff.[5] He was previously tenanting the appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command,[6] prior to that he served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination) [7]and as the General Officer Commanding IX Corps.[8]
Early life and Education[edit]
Gen Dwivedi is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa.[9] He then attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and then the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He also attended Defence Services Staff College, Wellington & Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, the general officer was conferred ‘Distinguished Fellow’ in the coveted NDC equivalent course at United States Army War College, Carlisle, USA. Further complementing his illustrious military career, are an M Phil in Defence & Management Studies, in addition to the two Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies and Military Science, including one from United States Army War College. He has also authored / presented articles in various professional forums / journals.
Military Career[edit]
Gen Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on 15 December 1984 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.[10] He has commanded a battalion at Chowkibal in Kashmir Valley during Operation Rakshak and the deserts of Rajasthan, a sector of the Assam Rifles in Manipur during Operation Rhino, served in Assam as Inspector General, Assam Rifles and held various other Staff & Command appointments in the North East. The General officer has had a unique distinction of balanced exposure of both Northern and Western Theatres.
The general officer, during his illustrious career spanning over 39 years, has tenanted various staff appointments in Headquarter Armoured Brigade, Mountain Division, Strike Corps and Integrated HQ, MoD (Army). Among his previous appointments were as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, directing staff at the higher command wing in the Army War College, he shaped the future generations of the three services and Friendly Foreign Countries. The Officer’s two overseas tenures include Somalia, as part of HQ UNOSOM II and military attaché to the government of Seychelles. Appointment of Director General Infantry empowered him to steer and fast-track Capital procurement cases of weapons for all the three services, leading to significant & visible capability enhancement for our Armed Forces.
In February 2020, he was appointed commander of IX Corps.[8] A year later in April 2021, he took over as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination).[7] As DCOAS (IS&C), the officer gave impetus to automation and absorption of niche tech in the Indian Army.[11]
On 1 February 2022, he took over as the General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command,[6] he assumed the post upon superannuation of Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi. Gen Dwivedi being a technology enthusiast, he worked towards enhancing the tech-threshold of all ranks in Northern Command and pushed for critical & emerging Technologies like big data analytics, artificial Intelligence, quantum and blockchain based solutions. He was also involved in modernisation and equipping of the largest Army Command of Indian Army, where he steered the induction of Indigenous equipment as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He synergised with people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for convergent nation building outcomes and infrastructure development. [11]
On 19th February 2024, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff from Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar, who now has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.[12]
On 11 June 2024, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of Army Staff succeeding General Manoj Pande who demits the office on 30 June, 2024.[13]
Personal life[edit]
The General Officer is married to Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, a science graduate, who is a homemaker. Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi has been associated with Aarushi, an Institute for specially abled children, at Bhopal. The couple are blessed with two daughters.[11]
Awards and decorations[edit]
Dates of rank[edit]
Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
---|---|---|---|
Second Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 December 1984[10] | |
Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 December 1986[14] | |
Captain | Indian Army | 15 December 1989[15] | |
Major | Indian Army | 15 December 1995[16] | |
Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 16 December 2004[17] | |
Colonel | Indian Army | 1 April 2006[18] | |
Brigadier | Indian Army | 13 June 2011 (acting) 17 October 2011 (substantive, with seniority from 30 March 2010)[19] | |
Major General | Indian Army | 1 December 2016 (seniority from 1 February 2015)[20] | |
Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 15 July 2019[21] |
References[edit]
- ^ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2024481
- ^ https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/vice-chief-of-the-army-staff-leaders-site-main
- ^ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1999669
- ^ "Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff". India Today. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge of Army's Northern Command". ANI. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has taken over as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff(IS &C)". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi is new commander of Rising Star Corps". Hindustan Times. 2020 [17 February].
- ^ "Sainik School Rewa celebrates its alumni -- Vice-Chiefs of Army & Navy". The Times of India. 21 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 17 December 1988. p. 1854.
- ^ a b c https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/vice-chief-of-the-army-staff-leaders-site-main
- ^ "LIEUTENANT GENERAL UPENDRA DWIVEDI TAKES OVER AS VICE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF FROM LIEUTENANT GENERAL MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi appointed as next Chief of the Army Staff w.e.f. afternoon of June 30, 2024". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 10 June 1989. p. 802.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 19 January 1991. p. 144.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 13 April 1996. p. 555.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1910.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 February 2009. p. 259.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 22 March 2014. p. 437.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 April 2022. p. 759.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 24 October 2020. p. 1670.