Vice Chief Lt Gen Manoj Pande All Set To Become Army Chief, Naravane Likely To Be Next CDS

Lt Gen Pande became the senior most after a few top officers retired in the last three months. The incumbent Lt Gen Raj Shukla who was commanding Army's training command (ARTRAC) retired on March 31

Army Vice Lieutenant General Manoj Pande | File Image

New Delhi: Vice Chief Lieutenant General Manoj Pande is all set to become Chief of the Army Staff as the incumbent Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, who is being seen as the frontrunner for the Chief of Defence Staff's post, is due to retire by the end of this month.

Being senior most in the office after General Naravane, Lt Gen Pande will take over the reign, reports news agency IANS.

Meanwhile, present Army Chief, Gen MM Naravane is ahead in the race for the post of Chief of Defence Staff after the post fell vacant in December last year as the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat passed away in a helicopter crash near Coimbatore.

General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 armed personnel were killed in the chopper crash that took place on December 8, 2021.

Lt Gen Pande became the senior most after a few top officers retired in the last three months. The incumbent Lt Gen Raj Shukla who was commanding Army's training command (ARTRAC) retired on March 31.

A few other senior most leaders had retired by January end. Lieutenant General C.P. Mohanty and Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi retired on January 31.

There were also rejing in the force this March end. Lt Gen S.S. Mahal assumed command of ARTRAC at Shimla after Lt Gen Raj Shukla hung his boots.

 

Lt Gen C. Bansi Ponnappa took charge as Adjutant General of the Army. Lt Gen JP Mathews took over as the General Officer Commanding Uttar Bharat area.