General Upendra Dwivedi Assumes Charge as 30th Army Chief, Bringing Vast Counter-Insurgency Experience
General Upendra Dwivedi is the 30th Chief of the Indian Army. He assumed office on June 30, 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. General Upendra Dwivedi possesses extensive experience in counter-insurgency and border operations in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. Additionally, he holds experience in commanding a Mountain Division in the Northeast. General Upendra Dwivedi was born on July 1, 1964, in the village of Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. He received his early education at the Sainik School, Rewa. After completing his schooling at Sainik School, General Dwivedi attended the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, followed by the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. He was awarded the ‘Blue’ in physical training for his outstanding performance at both the NDA and the IMA. General Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on December 15, 1984. He commanded a sector of the Assam Rifles in Manipur during ‘Operation Rhino,’ and served in the Kashmir Valley during ‘Operation Rakshak’ and in the deserts of Rajasthan. Throughout his illustrious career spanning over 39 years, he held various staff appointments at Headquarters formations—including a Brigade, a Mountain Division, a Strike Corps, and the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. Among his previous appointments, he served as an Instructor at the Indian Military Academy and as a Director on the Directing Staff for the Higher Command Course at the Army War College, where he trained future generations of officers from all three services as well as from friendly foreign nations. Tenure and Command: Recent Statements (2025–2026):
Krishna Swaminathan: The New Indian Naval Staff Chief
The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of the Indian Navy. He will formally assume the office of the Chief of Naval Staff on May 31, 2026. Following this, his tenure will extend until December 31, 2028. Currently, he is serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, based in Mumbai. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan joined the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987. He assumed charge as the 34th Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command on July 31, 2025. Krishna Swaminathan was born in Bangalore to D. Swaminathan and Shanta Swaminathan; both his parents were teachers. The Swaminathan family resided in NR Colony, Basavanagudi. He studied at Bishop Cotton Boys’ School until the age of 11, after which he pursued his further education at the Sainik School, Bijapur. Subsequently, he enrolled at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, and earned his graduation degree from there. After the NDA, Swaminathan pursued further studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham (United Kingdom); the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport (Rhode Island, USA). In terms of academic qualifications, he holds a BSc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; an MSc in Telecommunications from the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London; an M.Phil in Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai; and a Ph.D. in International Studies, also from the University of Mumbai. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is a specialist in communications and electronic warfare. Within the Navy, he is regarded as a visionary officer. He places special emphasis on future warfare and new military strategies. His focus remains firmly on modern technology and future readiness. Throughout his naval career, he has served in several key positions. Furthermore, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has been conferred with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal.