Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, New Army Chief After General Manoj Pande, To Take Charge On June 30th

The Defence Ministry has announced that Lt Gen Dwivedi would take charge from the current Army chief on June 30 following his retirement.

"The government has appointed Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of June 30," the Defence Ministry said.

Lt Gen Dwivedi would be taking over as the 30th after his stints as Army Chief,after stints as Vice Chief of Army Staff, Northern Army Commander, DG Infantry, and many other command appointments in the force.

In a rare move, the government last month extended Gen Pande's tenure by one month days before his superannuation.

Gen Pande was to retire from service on May 31. The move triggered speculation that Lt Gen Dwivedi may be overlooked for the top post.