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Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh today took over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), succeeding Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, who served as Vice Chief since July 2024 superannuated on July 31, beginning his tenure with a deeply personal tribute to five soldiers who laid down their lives alongside him during operations in Sri Lanka in 1989.
Marking his first day in office, Lt Gen Singh visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi along with the families of his fallen comrades. He laid a wreath at the Tyag Chakra, where their names are inscribed, reaffirming his commitment to the ethos of service and sacrifice.
As a young Second Lieutenant with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), Lt Gen Singh had led a 13-member Quick Reaction Team during a July 1989 ambush near Kilinochchi. Despite suffering serious injuries, he mounted a counter-assault, saving his team but losing five soldiers, an incident that left a lasting impression on his life and career.
Commissioned into the 4th Battalion of The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) in 1987, Lt Gen Singh brings nearly four decades of operational and strategic experience. His service includes key roles in Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka), Operation Meghdoot (Siachen), Operation Orchid (Northeast), and Operation Rakshak (J&K). He has commanded a Special Forces unit in Kashmir, an infantry brigade, and a mountain division during Operation Snow Leopard. Most recently, he led a critical Corps overseeing the Jammu, Samba, and Pathankot sectors.
An alumnus of La Martiniere College and Lucknow University, Lt Gen Singh is a graduate of DSSC Wellington and CDM Secunderabad, and holds advanced degrees from Osmania and Punjab universities. He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and a Bar to the Sena Medal for gallantry and distinguished service.
Speaking on the significance of his tribute, Lt Gen Singh said, “Leadership begins with remembering where you came from and honouring those who walked with you.”
His first act as Vice Chief sends a clear message: in the Indian Army, no one is left behind.
Team BharatShakti
