New Delhi: General Manoj Pande took over as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff on April 30, 2022, from General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who superannuated after four decades of an illustrious career.
The General officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in December 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers). He has commanded an Engineer Regiment during Operation PARAKRAM in the sensitive Pallanwala Sector of Jammu and Kashmir, along the Line of Control. The General Officer is a graduate of Staff College, Camberley (United Kingdom) and attended the Higher Command and National Defence College Courses.
In his four decades-long military career, he tenanted important and challenging command and staff appointments in different operational environments which include command of an Engineer Brigade in the Western Theatre, as part of Strike Corps, an Infantry Brigade along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, a Mountain Division in the High Altitude Area of Western Ladakh and command of a Corps, deployed along the Line of Actual Control and in Counter Insurgency Operations area of Eastern Command.
His staff exposures include Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade in the North East, Assistant Military Secretary in Military Secretary’s Branch, Colonel Q of a Mountain Division in High Altitude Area and Brigadier General Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Eastern Command.
He also served as Chief Engineer in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He also tenanted the appointments of Additional Director General in the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters, Chief of Staff Headquarters Southern Command and Director General Discipline Ceremonial & Welfare at the Army Headquarters. He was Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command from June 2020 to May 2021 and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command from June 2021 to January 2022 and was tenanting the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff from 01 February 2022.
For his illustrious service, he was conferred with the award Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. The General Officer is also The Colonel Commandant, The Bombay Sappers.
General MM Naravane superannuated after four decades of illustrious and meritorious service. His tenure in the office will be remembered for ensuring the health of Indian Army personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic, resolute reply to the Northern adversary in Eastern Ladakh, and a determined push towards Atmanirbharta, besides embracing niche and disruptive technologies to fight future wars.
General Naravane gave impetus to military diplomacy, instrumental in furthering good relations with India’s partner nations, and enhanced India’s Comprehensive National Power. His tenure saw the completion of the restructuring of Army HQ in New Delhi, resulting in a much leaner and more integrated decision-making body. He was an enthusiastic supporter of theaterisation and was familiar with the challenges involved in creating synergies amongst the three Services. He also pushed for the operationalization of IBGs. General Naravane was a soldier’s soldier and was concerned about the welfare of the troops. He visited the forward areas in Jammu & Kashmir, Eastern Ladakh and the North East number of times and actively pursued the cases for rapid construction of accommodation and habitats for the newly inducted troops in Eastern Ladakh, post-April 2020.
– global bihari bureau
