Lieutenant General Manoj Pande will soon take over the Chief of Army Staff and has created history with his new appointment. He is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to get this position.
He will become the 29th Army Chief of the country. Current Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane is set to retire by the end of this month. On April 30, Lieutenant General Manoj Pandey will be given the command of the Indian Army. Lt Gen Manoj Pandey is the senior-most officer in the army after Manoj Mukund Naravane.
Childhood & education
Manoj Pandey was born in an educated middle class family in Nagpur, Maharashtra. His father, Dr. CG Pandey, is a Consulting Physiotherapist and retired Head of Department of Psychology, Nagpur University. His mother, Prema Pandey worked as a host for radio stations. He has has two younger brothers.
Pande, following the education in Nagpur, joined the National Defence Academy. He continued his studies with Indian Military Academy Corps and College of Military Engineering, Pune, earning a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering. After which he went to He attended the Staff College, Camberley in the United Kingdom for higher studies.
He was commissioned into Corps of Engineers in December 1982. He rose in ranks and in his 39-years of career has many accomplishments under his belt.
Numerous achievements throughout his career
Since February 2022, he has been serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, before which he was posted as the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command. Prior to that, he commanded the Andaman and Nicobar Command as the Commander-in-Chief.
Lt General Pande Pande has commanded the 117 Engineer Regiment along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and most importantly, led a regiment during Operation Parakram in the Pallanwala sector of the state. This operation was taken up after the December 2001 terror attack on Parliament.
Lt General Pande has commanded an engineer brigade in the western theatre, an infantry brigade along LoC. He also led a mountain division in the Ladakh sector and a corps in the northeast.
India’s strategy against China will be strengthened
This reshuffle in the army will also affect India’s strategy against China. The Lieutenant General is the commander of the Eastern Command of the Army, which guards the border from Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh. Thus, Pande is considered an expert when it comes to China and its dealings. His appointment at the helm will be a great impetus for India’s strategy against China.
Achievements and Awards received by Manoj Pandey
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
- Vishisht Seva Medal
- Special Service Medal
- Operation Vijay Medal
- Operation Parakram Medal
- Sayanya Seva Medal
- High Altitude Service Medal
- Foreign Service Medal
- 50th Anniversary of the Medal of Freedom
- Received medal for 30 years long service
- Received a medal for serving 20 years
- Medal awarded for 9 years long service
- UNMEE Medal
