In an rare move, the Centre has extended Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande’s tenure by one month, just days before his scheduled superannuation.
Gen Pande, who was slated to retire from service on May 31, will now continue his role until June 30, as approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, according to the defence ministry.
The defence ministry stated that on May 26, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved the extension of service for Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj C Pande for one month beyond his normal age of superannuation, which is until June 30, under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954.
This extension marks a rare occurrence, as it comes nearly five decades after the then government, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, extended the tenure of Army Chief Gen G G Bewoor by one year in April 1974.
Notably, Gen Bewoor retired on May 31, 1975.
The decision to extend Gen Pande’s tenure holds historical significance, as military experts recall instances such as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’s extension following the 1971 war victory.
Following Gen Pande, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, currently serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, holds the next senior position.
However, both Lt Gen Dwivedi and Lt Gen Ajay Kumar Singh are set to retire on June 30, the same day Gen Pande’s extension ends.
Despite the impending retirements, the government retains the option to appoint either Lt Gen Dwivedi or Lt Gen Singh to the top post, as seen in previous instances like the appointment of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria as the IAF Chief in September 2019.
Lt Gen Singh emerges as a strong contender for the Army Chief’s position, while Central Army Commander Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani could also be considered, according to a national news agency.
Gen Pande, the 29th Chief of the Army Staff, assumed office on April 30, 2022, succeeding Gen MM Naravane.
Prior to his appointment, he served as the Vice Chief and is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to helm the force.
