Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi takes over as Indian Army Chief; Gen Manoj Pande accorded with Guard of Honour on last day

General Upendra Dwivedi assumed command of the Indian Army on Sunday, becoming the 30th Chief of the Army. Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, he is a veteran of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and previously served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff from February of the same year. General Dwivedi attended Sainik School Rewa in Madhya Pradesh before joining the National Defence Academy in January 1981. He was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on December 15, 1984. Throughout his career, he has commanded this battalion in both the challenging terrains of Kashmir valley and the deserts of Rajasthan.