General Manoj Pande is the 28th and current Chief Of the Army Staff. He is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the Army Chief. He also served as the Vice Chief Of Army Staff.
Family background of General Manoj Pande :-
Born on 6 May 1962 in a Marathi brahmin family. His father, Dr.C.G. Pande was a consulting psychotherapist. His mother, Prema, was an announcer and host of All India Radio. His father retired as the Head Of the Department of Psychology of Nagpur University.
He is married to Archana Salpekar, who is a gold medalist from Government Dental College.
Education of General Manoj Pande :-
He completed his schooling from Somalwar High School. He joined the 61st course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in January 1979. Manoj Pande graduated from the degree of Bachelor Of Science when he was assigned to the Lima Squadron. After graduation, he joined the Indian Military Academy where he was commissioned as an officer. After that he attended the College of Military Engineering where he earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering.
Beginning Of his Career :-
In December 1982, he was commissioned into the Bombay Sappers. He also attended the Staff College in Camberley in the United Kingdom. He was appointed as the Brigade Major of a mountain brigade in Northeast India. After that, he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was in command during Operation Parakram. After completing the Higher Command Course he was appointed as Colonel Q at HQ 8 Mountain division. After that, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. Pande was selected to attend the prestigious National Defence College. He became a Brigadier General Staff operations at HQ Eastern Command after the completion of the course
Service as General Officer :-
Pande took command of 8 mountain divisions after the promotion to the rank of Major General. He served as the Additional Director General (ADG) at Army Headquarters. When he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, he served as the Chief of Staff of Southern Command.
He was appointed as the next Commander-in-Chief of Andaman And Nicobar Islands, on 30 April 2020. On 31 January 2022, he was appointed as the Vice Chief Of Defence Staff succeeding Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty.
The Government of India has appointed him as the Chief Of Army Staff, succeeding General Manoj Mukund Narvane on 18 April 2022.
Honours to General Manoj Pande :-
General Manoj Pande received many awards like the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal. He has also been awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card and two GOC-in-C commendation cards.
