Upendra Dwivedi

General
Upendra Dwivedi
PVSM AVSM
Official Portrait, 2024
30th Chief of the Army Staff
In office
30 June 2024 – 30 June 2026
PresidentDroupadi Murmu
Preceded byManoj Pande
Succeeded byDhiraj Seth
46th Vice Chief of the Army Staff
In office
19 February 2024 – 30 June 2024
PresidentDroupadi Murmu
Chief of Army StaffManoj Pande
Preceded byM. V. Suchindra Kumar
Succeeded byN. S. Raja Subramani
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Northern Command
In office
1 February 2022 (2022-02-01) – 18 February 2024
Chief of Army StaffManoj Mukund Naravane
Manoj Pande
Preceded byYogesh Kumar Joshi
Succeeded byM. V. Suchindra Kumar
Personal details
Born (1964-07-01) 1 July 1964[1]
SpouseSunita Dwivedi[2]
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Army
Years of service
15 December 1984 – 30 June 2026 [3]
Rank General
Unit 18 JAK RIF
Commands
Service numberIC-42298W[4]
Awards

General Upendra Dwivedi PVSM AVSM (born 1 July 1964) is a retired general officer of the Indian Army. He last served as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff.[5][6] He earlier served as the 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff,[7] General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command,[8]Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination)[9] and as the General Officer Commanding IX Corps.[10]

Early life and education

Gen Dwivedi is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa. He joined Sainik School, Rewa in July 1973 where he was classmates with former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and passed out from the school in 1981.[11] He attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and then the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was conferred Distinguished Fellow in the coveted NDC equivalent course at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, USA. He has an M.Phil. degree in Defence & Management Studies, in addition to the two master's degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science, including one from United States Army War College. He has authored / presented articles in various professional forums / Journals.[2]

Military career

He was commissioned into the 18th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on 15 December 1984 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.[12] 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. He has had a unique distinction of balanced exposure of both Northern and Western Theatres.[13]

During his career spanning over four decades, he 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, and Directing Staff at the Higher Command Wing in the Army War College. His two overseas tenures include Somalia, as part of HQ UNOSOM II and Military attaché to the Government of Seychelles. He has been IGAR (East) and Sector Cdr Assam Rifles in intense CT Ops and held various other Staff & Command appointments in the North East where he pioneered the first ever compendium on Indo – Myanmar Border Management. Later as Director General Infantry he steered and fast-tracked Capital procurement cases of weapons for all three services.[2]

In February 2020, Gen Dwivedi was appointed commander of IX Corps.[10] A year later in April 2021, he took over as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination).[9] As DCOAS (IS&C), the officer gave impetus to automation and absorption of niche tech in the Indian Army.[2]

On 1 February 2022, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command,[8] 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.[2]

On 19 February 2024, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff from Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar, who was appointed the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.[7]

Chief of the Army Staff

On 11 June 2024, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of Army Staff.[6] On 30 June 2024, General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff succeeding General Manoj Pande on the latter's superannuation after four decades of service.[5] After becoming Chief of the Army Staff he played a vital role during victory in Operation Sindoor. He was succeeded by General Dhiraj Seth who took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff.

Personal life

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 has two daughters who are working with NGOs. General Dwivedi is a skilled Yoga practitioner.[2]

Awards and decorations

The general officer was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024[14] and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021.[15] Gen. Dwivedi has been awarded three GOC-in-C Commendation cards.[2]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Sainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UNOSOM
Gen Manoj Pande hands over the baton to Gen Upendra Dwivedi
General Upendra Dwivedi receiving a guard of honour after assuming charge as 30th Chief of the Army Staff
Gen Dwivedi as VCOAS
Gen Dwivedi as IGAR (East)

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Second Lieutenant Indian Army 15 December 1984[12]
Lieutenant Indian Army 15 December 1986[16]
Captain Indian Army 15 December 1989[17]
Major Indian Army 15 December 1995[18]
Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army 16 December 2004[19]
Colonel Indian Army 1 April 2006[20]
Brigadier Indian Army 13 June 2011 (acting)
17 October 2011 (substantive, with seniority from 30 March 2010)[21]
Major General Indian Army 1 December 2016 (seniority from 1 February 2015)[22]
Lieutenant General Indian Army 15 July 2019[23]
General

(COAS)

 Indian Army 30 June 2024[24]

References

  1. ↑ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2024481
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/general-upendra-dwivedi--30-jun-2024-to-till-date-chief-of-the-army-staff-leaders-site-main
  3. ↑ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  4. ↑ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1999669
  5. 1 2 "GENERAL UPENDRA DWIVEDI TAKES OVER AS THE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF". Press Information Bureau. 30 June 2024.
  6. 1 2 "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.
  7. 1 2 "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.
  8. 1 2 "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge of Army's Northern Command". ANI. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has taken over as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff(IS &C)". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi is new commander of Rising Star Corps". Hindustan Times. 2020 [17 February].
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. 1 2 "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 17 December 1988. p. 1854.
  13. ↑ "Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff". India Today. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry and distinguished awards to Army" (PDF). pib.gov.in. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  15. ↑ "President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". Press Information Bureau. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 10 June 1989. p. 802.
  17. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 19 January 1991. p. 144.
  18. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 13 April 1996. p. 555.
  19. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1910.
  20. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 February 2009. p. 259.
  21. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 22 March 2014. p. 437.
  22. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 April 2022. p. 759.
  23. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 24 October 2020. p. 1670.
  24. ↑ "Part I-Section 4" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 5 October 2024. p. 3496.
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