General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday superannuated from the Indian Army after more than four decades of distinguished service, relinquishing the appointment of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) upon superannuation.
His tenure as Army Chief was marked by a strong focus on operational preparedness, military modernisation, jointness among the three Services, technology integration and soldier-centric reforms, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
During his tenure, the Indian Army maintained a high level of operational readiness across all theatres. Under his leadership, the force sustained a robust and vigilant posture along the Northern Borders under Operation Snow Leopard while effectively discharging its responsibilities along the Western Front with professionalism and restraint.
The Ministry described Operation Sindoor as a defining moment of General Dwivedi’s tenure, highlighting the Army’s preparedness, precision and calibrated response in addressing emerging security challenges.
General Dwivedi also spearheaded the Indian Army’s ongoing Decade of Transformation, overseeing wide-ranging reforms in force restructuring, modernisation, technology absorption, systems reform and human resource management. Several key initiatives, including Rudra Brigades, Bhairav Battalions, Ashni Drone Platoons, Shaktibaan Regiments, Divyastra Batteries, Electronic Warfare Brigades and Integrated Battle Groups, were advanced during his leadership as part of efforts to build a modern, agile and future-ready force.
A strong advocate of greater integration among the armed forces, General Dwivedi consistently promoted enhanced synergy between the Army, Navy and Air Force. His emphasis on common operational planning and closer inter-service coordination aligned with India’s vision of integrated theatre operations.
The welfare of serving personnel, veterans, Veer Naris and their families remained another key priority during his tenure. He introduced and supported several welfare initiatives aimed at strengthening the Army’s engagement with its personnel, including the Veterans Achievers Award, while reiterating that the Army’s responsibility towards its soldiers extends beyond active service.
General Dwivedi also guided the formulation of the Strategic Security Guidelines @2047, aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and the Armed Forces Vision @2047, providing a long-term roadmap for the Indian Army’s future preparedness and capability development.
In recognition of his distinguished service, General Upendra Dwivedi has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). His tenure is widely regarded as one that strengthened the Army’s operational capabilities while accelerating its transformation into a technologically advanced and future-ready force.
