2024-07-01 07:20:02
General Upendra Dwivedi Sunday took charge as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff at a time India faces a range of security challenges, particularly a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region and the standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Gen Dwivedi succeeds Gen Manoj Pande who retired Sunday after an illustrious four-decade career. The new chief brings with him around 40 years of operational experience which includes several command and staff appointments across the Northern, Eastern, and Western theatres.
One of his likely priorities would be to restore stability to the Jammu region, which has seen an increase in terror attacks on security forces and on civilians in the last few years. Gen Dwivedi has served as Northern Army Commander and has been involved in major deployment changes carried out in the region last year in response to militant attacks in the Rajouri-Poonch belt.
General Upendra Dwivedi
A government statement issued Sunday said the top Army officer, in his past appointments, had played a pivotal role in grey zone warfare in the context of national security. Grey zone warfare generally means a middle, unclear space that exists between direct conflict and peace in international relations. Another priority is to ensure a stable LAC — from Ladakh to the Northeast — as India and China continue military and diplomatic talks to restore the status that existed as of April 2020 in eastern Ladakh.
Gen Dwivedi will also likely take a fresh look at the Agnipath recruitment scheme with the military hierarchy already in the process of reviewing it following feedback from the three services. The Army is learnt to be seeking a higher percentage of Agniveer retention at the end of four years.
Continuing the modernisation of the Army with infusion of latest technology, including indigenous equipment, will likely be another focus area for the Army Chief. A Defence Ministry statement said: “His impetus would be to augment infusion of critical technologies by leveraging the nation’s vibrant, capable and productive technology ecosystem.”
