In a surprising move amidst ongoing elections, the Indian government has extended the tenure of Army Chief General Manoj Pandey by one month. General Pandey, who was set to retire on May 31, will now continue in his role until June 30. This decision marks the first time an Army Chief’s tenure has been extended since the Indira Gandhi-led government extended General SHFJ Manekshaw’s tenure for his contributions during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
While the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force typically retire at the age of 62, Lieutenant General-rank officers and their equivalents in the Air Force and Navy retire at 60. General Manekshaw’s tenure extension in the past also led to the subsequent appointment of General GG Bewoor as the Army Chief.
The extension of General Pandey’s tenure has sparked discussions in South Block regarding the appointment of a new Army Chief. Despite ongoing elections, the appointment of Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi on May 1 demonstrates that the model code of conduct does not prohibit such appointments.
According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, the ‘Appointments Committee of the Cabinet’ (ACC) has extended General Pandey’s tenure under Section 16A (4) of the Army Rules 1954. General Pandey, commissioned in the Army’s ‘Corps of Engineers’ (Bombay Sappers) in 1982, became the Army Chief on April 30, 2022.
He is the first Chief in Indian Army history who did not come from a combat arm, emphasizing the government’s effort to bridge the gap between combat and combat-support arms.
General Pandey’s tenure has been marked by a focus on Make in India, self-reliance in the defence sector, and indigenous weapons development. Under his leadership, the Army has also seen a proactive approach in securing the border, particularly against China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Despite the extension, General Pandey has commenced ‘farewell visits’ to various field formations, a tradition in the military. Speculation is rife about his successor, especially since both the current Vice Chief, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, and the Commander of the Army’s Southern Command, Lieutenant General AK Singh, are also set to retire on June 30.
The extension of General Pandey’s tenure raises questions about the appointment of his successor and the government’s plans regarding the Army and Theatre Command. With the model code of conduct in place due to elections, the government’s decision to extend General Pandey’s tenure and the subsequent appointment of the new Army Chief will be closely watched.
Who will be the next chief? Seniority Vs Merit
Lt Gen. Dwivedi was the front-runner to become the next Army chief, being the senior-most officer, but there were speculations that Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh might emerge as a surprise candidate.
However, these speculations lessened when Lt Gen Dwivedi was appointed as the Vice Chief in February this year. His appointment was seen as a natural progression, being the senior-most Lieutenant General after Gen Manoj Pande.
Despite this, there have been indications within certain government circles in recent days that Lt Gen Dwivedi may not be announced as the next Army chief.
As a result, Lt Gen Singh is now being viewed as a strong contender for the position. It’s noteworthy that both officers are scheduled to retire on the same day, June 30, when the extension of the current Army chief ends.
While Lt Gen Dwivedi holds a higher merit rank per Army rules, Lt Gen Singh is older by a few weeks, which makes him senior to Lt Gen Dwivedi in age.
It is still uncertain which of them will be appointed as the Army chief. A similar situation occurred with the appointment of former Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhaduria, who was appointed on the day he was supposed to retire. Another contender in the race is the Central Army Commander Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani.
According to a source, “With the extension, one thing is very clear, the government wants to choose its Army chief based on merit.” The source underlined that the extension of the Army chief was not influenced by the elections or the model code of conduct.
Lt Gen Subramani is a strong candidate, bringing valuable operational and staff experience to the table, particularly in dealing with China. His extensive command experience includes leading a battalion during ‘Operation Rhino’, an Infantry Brigade along the International Boundary, and the Kharga Strike Corps at Ambala, which focuses on Pakistan.
In various staff appointments, Lt Gen Subramani has demonstrated his capabilities as Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, Assistant Military Secretary, Colonel General Staff at Headquarters Eastern Command, Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Staff in Eastern Command, and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Command, among others.
As the Indian Army prepares for a change in leadership, the nation remains focused on maintaining its defence capabilities and safeguarding its borders amidst evolving geopolitical challenges.