Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) on Monday at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi. Prior to assuming the appointment of VCOAS, he was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Central Command based in Lucknow. He relinquished the command after serving 16 months on Sunday. The change in the guard was triggered by the vacancy arising from the promotion of Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the Vice Chief.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Lt Gen Subramani was commissioned in Garhwal Rifles in 1985. He is an alumnus of Joint Services Command Staff College, Bracknell (UK) and National Defence College, New Delhi. He holds a Master of Arts Degree from King’s College, London and an M Phil in Defence Studies from Madras University.
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani has assumed the office of Vice Chief of Army Staff today. He previously served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command in Lucknow. #IndianArmy #Leadership #ServiceToNation
More: https://t.co/ZUzjI9AT04@giridhararamane pic.twitter.com/IqrsoCCnYL
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) July 1, 2024
As Gen Dwivedi took over as the Chief of the Indian Army on Sunday, a series of changes led to new incumbents taking over five top posts in the Army. Four of the seven Army commands now have new commanders who took charge of the latest posting on 1 July. Army commanders and the Vice-Chief are the eight senior-most military commanders after the Army Chief.
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta assumed Command of the Central Command, replacing Lt Gen Subramani. His new role is of significant strategic importance, as he will be responsible for the LAC in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, among other areas. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, based in Udhampur. Lt Gen Sengupta previously commanded the 14 Corps based at Leh, tasked with managing eastern Ladakh and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, UYSM, AVSM, YSM assumed the command of the #CentralCommand, today. On the occasion, #ArmyCommander paid homage to the #Bravehearts at #SMRITIKA War Memorial in Lucknow and reviewed the Guard of Honour. He exhorted all Ranks to continue working… pic.twitter.com/1sOwtTRj2k
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024
The Army’s Southern Command, headquartered in Pune, also gets a new commander. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, the present Commander of the Jaipur-headquartered South-Western Command, moved to the Southern Command. He assumed command of the Southern Command today in a solemn ceremony and exhorted all ranks to remain focused on operational preparedness and continue working with utmost zeal and enthusiasm in service of the nation, the Indian Army said via an X post.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, AVSM assumed the command of #SouthernCommand of the #IndianArmy today. In a solemn ceremony, #ArmyCommander paid tribute to the #Bravehearts at Command War Memorial & reviewed the Guard of Honour. The #ArmyCdr exhorted all ranks to remain focused… pic.twitter.com/0dgRmBHWfA
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024
Lt Gen Manjinder Singh is the new South-Western Commander. He assumed the command of Sapta Shakti Command after paying tribute at Prerna Sthal in Jaipur today. South Western Command is the seventh and youngest Command of the Indian Army and was accordingly christened the “Sapta Shakti Command.” He will oversee the southern Punjab and northern Rajasthan along the Pakistan borders. He headed the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), headquartered in Shimla.
Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, AVSM, YSM, VSM assumed the command of #SaptaShaktiCommand, today. In a solemn ceremony, Army Commander paid tribute to the #Bravehearts at #PrernaSthal, #JaipurMilitaryStation & reviewed the Guard of Honour. #ArmyCdr exhorted all ranks of South… pic.twitter.com/Jl7iOSmUc6
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024
Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, the present Chief of Staff of the Army’s Western Command, headquartered in Chandimandir, has been moved to ARTRAC, Shimla. He also took over the command of Army Training Command today.
Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, AVSM, SM assumed the command of Army Training Command #ARTRAC, today. The #ArmyCommander reviewed a Military Guard of Honour at #Annandale, #Shimla. He exhorted All Ranks to continue working with utmost zeal and enthusiasm.#IndianArmy… pic.twitter.com/bWjnP9nEtC
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024
Apart from four commanders, several key changes were effected on Monday:
Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla took over the command of the Leh-based 14th Corps or “Fire & Fury Corps” from Lt Gen Rashim Bali. It is the Army’s Udhampur-based part of the Northern Command. The 14th Corps forms a military deployment in the Kargil-Leh area, guarding the frontiers with China and Pakistan. It also guards the Siachen Glacier.
Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla takes over the command of the “Fire & Fury Corps” from Lt Gen Rashim Bali. On assuming command, the Corps Commander paid tribute to the #Bravehearts at the War Memorial. He exhorted all ranks to continue working relentlessly with the same zeal and vigour… pic.twitter.com/OXZ1GzMhhN
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024
Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar assumed command of the Kharga Corps from Lt Gen Rahul R Singh. Under the aegis of the Army’s Western Command, the Ambala-based Corps II is known as the Kharga Strike Corps.
Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar assumed the command of #KhargaCorps from Lt Gen Rahul R Singh. On assuming command, the Corps Commander paid tribute to the #Bravehearts at the #VijaySmarak. He exhorted all ranks of #KhargaCorps to continue to strive for professional excellence with zeal &… pic.twitter.com/yUvEM86Jnf
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024
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