1. Lt Gen Manoj Pande PVSM, AVSM, VSM is set to be the next Chief of Army Staff of the Storing Indian Army. He will be the successor to the current Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC.
2. Lt Gen Manoj Pande PVSM, AVSM, VSM will be the first Officer from the Engineer Corps hold the auspicious appointment. Currently he is at the appointment of Vice Chief of Army Staff since Feb 2022. Previously he has served as General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Army Command. The General Officer is the Colonel of the Regiment of the Bombay Sappers and Corps of Engineers. He was commissioned in 117 Engineer Regiment on 24 Dec 1982. Further, he commanded an Infantry Brigade and a Mountain Division.
3. He belongs to Nagpur and joined the prestigious National Defense Academy, Khadakvasla after senior secondary schooling. His better half is Archana Salpekar and had tied the knot on 3 May 1987.
4. The announcement was highly expected as rest of the serving Lt Gen rank officer of the Indian Army have recently retired or have assumed appointments such as GOC – in – C ARTRAC, Adjutant General and several others.
5. The next appointment pending and will be a highly rated one will be of the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS). With the sad and sudden demise of Gen Bipin Rawat during the month of December last year the post went vacant. Gen MM Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is the forerunner to the post and if not promoted will retire from the post of Chief of Army Staff on 30th of April 2022.