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The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Army, Air Force witness changes at the top brass
In a series of major changes in the top brass of the Army and Indian Air Force (IAF), Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma took over as the Northern Army Commander, and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took charge as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff on Monday. Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari is set to take charge as the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday. The changes, which come amid the tensions with Pakistan and expectations of possible punitive strikes by India, are routine due to the superannuation of the incumbents. The three changes at the top will initiate a series of changes in the top hierarchy in the Army and IAF in the coming days. Lt. Gen. Sharma took charge of the Udhampur-based Northern Command from Lt. Gen. Suchindra Kumar, who superannuated from service on April 30. A former cadet of the Captain Manoj Pandey UP Sainik School, Lucknow, he was commissioned into the Madras Regiment in December 1987. Lt. Gen. Sharma has commanded an Infantry Battalion, Brigade and Division along the Line of Control and a Strike Corps in the Western Sector. He was serving as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) prior to taking over the present appointment. Air Marshal Dixit assumed the post of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) from Lt. Gen. J. P. Mathew, who retired after nearly four decades in service. Air Marshal Dixit was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command before assuming the new appointment. Air Marshal Tiwari, who was earlier serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command (SWAC) at Gandhinagar, will take over as the Vice Chief of IAF from Air Marshal S. P. Dharkar, who superannuated on April 30. Further, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who was serving as the AOC-in-C at IAF's Training Command, is the new AOC-in-C, SWAC, and he was replaced at the Training Command by Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, who was serving as Deputy Chief of Air Staff. Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, serving as the AOC-in-C of Southern Air Command (SAC), is the new AOC-in-C Central Air Command. His replacement at SAC as well as the new Deputy Chief are yet to be announced. The Navy will see a series of changes on August 1, beginning with the superannuation of Vice Admiral S. J. Singh, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C), Mumbai-based Western Naval Command (WNC) on July 31. Present Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, is likely to take over as the next Western naval Commander. This will initiate a series of changes with three more top commanders — Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, FOC-in-C East; Vice Adm. V. Srinivas, FOC-in-C South; and Vice Adm. Suraj Berry, Strategic Forces Commander — set to superannuate a few months later.
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma takes charge as Northern Army Commander
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Thursday assumed charge as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army's Udhampur-based Northern Command. He succeeded Lieutenant General M V Suchindra Kumar, who completed his four-decade career in the Army on April 30. Lt General Sharma is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He was commissioned into the Madras Regiment in December 1987. He also has a rich operational experience, having commanded an infantry battalion, brigade and division along the Line of Control, besides a strike corps in the Western Sector. Lt General Sharma has also served as a staff officer in the UN Mission and has held important appointments at Military Operations Directorate and Military Secretary Branch at Army headquarters. He was also the Director General of Military Operations and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (strategy) prior to taking over as commander of the Northern Command. On assuming command, he conveyed his greetings to all ranks and expressed his commitment to taking forward the work of his predecessors and all ranks of the Northern Command.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Change of guard at Northern Command as Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar retires
Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar on Wednesday relinquished command of Udhampur-based Northern Command on his retirement after achieving the superannuation age, officials said. He served at the post for 15 months, they added. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma will be the new general officer commanding-in-chief of the Northern Command and will assume office on Thursday amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 persons, 25 tourists and a local. Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal said Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar on Wednesday laid a wreath at Dhruva War Memorial in Udhampur. 'Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, Army Commander #NorthernCommand laid wreath to honour the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts at Dhruva War Memorial, Udhampur on superannuation & relinquishing command of the Northern Command,' Jammu-based defence PRO's office said in a post on microblogging platform X. Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar took charge of the command-- -- responsible for security and operations along India's northern borders, including J&K, parts of Himachal and Ladakh --in February 2024 from General Upendra Dwivedi, the current chief of Indian Army. The development opened floodgates of misinformation on social media platforms, with many accounts claiming that the outgoing GOC had been 'sacked' in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. However, fact-checking media outlets have since highlighted and debunked these claims.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma is new chief of Army's crucial Northern Command
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma will be the new chief of Indian Army 's crucial Northern Command in J&K, while Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari will take over as the Indian Air Force vice-chief, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. "Pakistani social media handles are spreading fake news that India is shunting out top military officers in wake of the Pahalgam massacre. In fact, the new appointments have taken place since the incumbents superannuated Wednesday," an officer said. Lieutenant General Sharma, who has earlier served as the director-general of military operations and deputy chief (strategy), replaces Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar at the Udhampur-based Northern Command. Air Marshal Tiwari, the South-Western Air Command chief, in turn, succeeds Air Marshal SP Dharkar as the IAF vice-chief in New Delhi. In another top appointment, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will be the new chief of the integrated defence staff and succeeds Lieutenant General JP Mathew, who also retired Wednesday.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Armed forces up for major rejig as new Northern Army Commander, IAF Vice Chief appointed
NEW DELHI: The Indian Armed Forces, (Army, Navy and Air Force) are due for major top-level changes as top commanders will superannuate getting replaced by new ones. Lieutenant General Prateek Sharma is set to take charge as the Commander-in-Chief of the Udhampur-based Northern Command, the Indian Army's largest, overseeing key areas like the Line of Control, Line of Actual Control, Siachen, Kargil, and Drass. His appointment comes amid heightened global focus on Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. An ex-cadet of the prestigious Captain Manoj Pandey UP Sainik School, Lucknow, is the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS)—Strategy. The DCOAS Strategy, a third Deputy Chief of Army who oversees the Indian Army's operations and intelligence directorates, among other important branches, is one of the most crucial appointments within the Indian Army. On Wednesday, Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, after completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army, relinquished the Command of the Indian Army's Northern Command. The brave men and women of the Command gave him a befitting farewell. Air Marshal Ashok Dixit will be assuming the position of the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) on May 1 as Lt Gen JP Mathew relinquished the appointment of CISC on April 30, 2025 upon the culmination of nearly four decades in service. Air Marshal Dixit was the Air Officer CinC Central Air Command before assuming the new appointment. Also, on May 1 Lt Gen DS Rana, serving as the Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) will be promoted to the rank of a force Commander. "He is expected to proceed as the CinC, Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) from June 1. ANC is India's only tri-services operational Command. Lt Gen Rana is likely to be replaced by Lt Gen SP Singh, presently serving as the Chief of Staff of Army's Southern Command. . The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the COSC (Chiefs of Staff Committee) heads the HQ Integrated Defence Staff, with his parity being that of a three-star armed forces officer of the level of Vice Chiefs of the Services. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is up for a major top level rejig beginning with the Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS). Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, will be assuming the Charge of VCAS in place of Air Marshal SP Dharkar, superannuating on April 30. The new changes will be effective in the next few days. Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Southern Air Command (SAC) will be the new AOC-in-C Central Air Command. His replacement at the CAC is not yet confirmed. Another change in IAF is the AOC-in-C of the South Western Air Command Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, presently serving as the AOC-in-C at IAF's Training Command. Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, presently the Deputy Chief of Air Staff will be the AOC-in-C Training Command of IAF. Among the three services India Navy will see the all top Commanders being replaced by new officers in future. Beginning with the superannuation of Vice Admiral SJ Singh, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command (WNC) on July 31. Sources said that the current Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is likely to go as the next WNC FOC-in-C. The Indian Army and the IAF are arranged into seven commands each and the Navy has three Commands. In the month of October this year both the Naval Commanders, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, FOC-in-C East and Vice Adm V Srinivas, FOC-in-C South will be superannuating. Meanwhile the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) will also see the change of guard with Vice Admiral Suraj Berry superannuating in September. In case of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, SFC and the CISC, it is a rotation based tri-services command to be headed by one command by each service. As the new CISC is an IAF Officer and Army heading the ANC, a Navy officer will continue to be the Commander in Chief of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). In the Navy, the few officers next in line, as per the seniority, includes Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan (Deputy Chief Integrated Defence Staff), Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena (COS- ENC) and Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar (COS, WNC).
