General Upendra Dwivedi took charge as the 30th Chief Of the Army Staff (COAS) on Sunday, as General Manoj C Pande demitted the office. His name was announced on June 11.
He served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from February 2024 to June 2024, and has previously served as the IGAR (GOC) and Sector Commander Assam Rifles. Dwivedi has also commanded Rising Star Corps and Northern Army (2022-2024).
Born on July 1, 1964, Dwivedi hails from Madhya Pradesh. He studied at Sainik School Rewa (MP) and joined the National Defence Academy in January 1981. He has an MPhil in Defence & Management Studies and two Masters degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science. He is a Distinguished Fellow from USAWC, Carlisle, USA. He has authored/presented articles in various professional forums/journals. He is married to Sunita Dwivedi, a science graduate and homemaker. The couple has two daughters working with NGOs.
Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on December 15, 1984. During his military career, he has commanded battalion in Kashmir Valley and Rajasthan Deserts.
He has balanced exposure to Northern, Western, and Eastern Theatres. Dwivedi has pioneered the first compendium on Indo-Myanmar Border Management. He provided strategic guidance and operational oversight in J&K.
Among the awards and honours, Dwivedi has received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and three GOC-in-C Commendation cards.
He has worked in diverse terrain and operational environments, including deserts, high altitude, riverine, built-up areas, north east and Jammu and Kashmir. He also commanded active Counter Terrorist operations and managed the induction of Indigenous equipment under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Dwivedi has handled conventional operations of Armoured Brigade in Punjab plains. He has provided logistical support to Mountain Division in the North East. He has handled operations of a Strike Corps in Deserts. He has made significant contributions to the Military Secretary’s branch and Military Operations Directorate
He has also played a key role in procurement and technology. Dwivedi has steered and fast-tracked capital procurement cases of weapons as DG Infantry. He has enhanced tech threshold and pushed for emerging technologies (Big Data Analytics, AI, Quantum, Blockchain) in the Indian Army.
As part of his overseas tenures, he has served in Somalia with HQ UNOSOM II. He was also the Military Advisor to the Government of Seychelles.
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