Srinagar: Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a statement said, “On assumption of appointment, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi laid wreath at the National War Memorial and was accorded Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns.

The ministry said that prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi was tendering the appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command from 2022-2024 in an extremely challenging operational environment.

“An alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa (MP), Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi was commissioned into 18 JAMMU & KASHMIR RIFLES in 1984, a unit he later commanded. The General officer has had a unique distinction of balanced exposure of both Northern and Western Theatres,” said the MoD in the statement.

During his illustrious career spanning across 39 years, he has held command appointments in challenging operational environments, spanning the length and breadth of the country. He commanded his unit in Kashmir Valley as well as in Rajasthan. He has been Sector Commander and Inspector General Assam Rifles in an intense Counter Terrorism environment in the North East.

“Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi commanded the Rising Star Corps with an operational role along the Western Borders. He later commanded the prestigious Northern Army from 2022-24 in an extremely challenging operational environment along both northern and western borders. During his command, he provided Strategic guidance & Operational oversight for planning and execution of sustained operations along the northern and western borders, besides orchestrating the dynamic Counter-Terrorism operations in J&K,” reads the statement.

During this period, the General officer was actively engaged in the ongoing negotiations with China in resolving the vexed border issue. He was also involved in modernisation and equipping of the largest Army Command of Indian Army, where he steered the induction of indigenous equipment as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He synergised with people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for convergent Nation-Building outcomes and infrastructure development, it added.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, who now has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.