Fourteen years on: An officer who commanded the Northern Command set to become army chief

With Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi set to assume the position of Army Chief on June 30 this year, succeeding General Manoj Pande, the longstanding tradition of selecting commanders with experience in leading the Indian Army’s Eastern Command has been somewhat disrupted. In terms of command experience, Lt Gen Dwivedi led the Udhampur-based Northern Command for two years, from February 2022 to February 2024.

The last army chief with experience commanding the Northern Command before assuming the role of Chief of the Army Staff was Gen Deepak Kapoor, who served from 1 October, 2007 to 31 March, 2010.

Army Chiefs from Eastern Command 2010 onwards

Since 2010, most Army Chiefs have had experience commanding the Kolkata-based and Fort William-headquartered Eastern Army Command. Here are notable examples:

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• Gen Vijay Kumar Singh led the Eastern Command from 1 March, 2008, to 31 March, 2010, before becoming Army Chief on 1 April, 2010.

• Gen Bikram Singh commanded the Eastern Command from 1 April, 2010 to 30 April, 2012 and became Army Chief on 1 June, 2012.

• Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who took charge as Army Chief on 1 August, 2014, commanded the Eastern Command from 16 June, 2012 to 31 December, 2013.

• Gen Bipin Rawat, who became Army Chief on 31 Decembe, 2016, had significant experience as the Corps Commander of the Rangapahar-based 3 Corps in Nagaland.

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• Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane, appointed army chief on 31 December, 2019, commanded the Eastern Command from 1 October, 2018 to 31 August 31, 2019.

• The incumbent army chief, Gen Manoj Pande, led the Eastern Command from 1 June, 2021 to 31 January, 2022.

• The current Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, also commanded the Eastern Command from 1 September, 2019 to 31 May, 2021.

This pattern reflects the importance of experience in the Eastern Command for those aspiring to the top military position. Over the past 14 years, since 2010, the majority of India’s Army chiefs have had experience leading the Eastern Army Command. In fact, six of the past army chiefs had significant roles within the Eastern Army Command’s operational area before ascending to the rank of four-star officer.

Eastern Command experience: A criteria for COAS appointment?

Although there are no formal rules or specific qualifications for appointing the Army Chief, past appointments indicate that India’s strategic focus has shifted from Pakistan to its larger neighbour China. Given the vast geographical area and strategic importance of the Eastern Command, serving in this command provides officers with invaluable experience, preparing them for challenging appointments and advancing their military careers.

The Indian Army’s Eastern Command is responsible for a vast operational area in the eastern region of India covering the states of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The Eastern Command oversees extensive border areas, including the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, and the border with Bangladesh, ensuring security and managing cross-border issues. The command is also heavily involved in counterinsurgency operations in the northeastern states, which face challenges from various insurgent groups and support state governments in maintaining internal security and peace.

Key formations under the Eastern Command include III Corps headquartered in Dimapur (Rangapahar), Nagaland, IV Corps in Tezpur, Assam and XXXIII Corps in Siliguri, West Bengal. These formations, along with specialised mountain divisions are trained and equipped for operations in the challenging terrain of the Himalayas and northeastern hill regions.

The strategic importance of the Eastern Command cannot be overstated as the North East India’s connectivity to Southeast Asia further enhances its strategic and economic significance. Additionally, the security of the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”, is vital as this narrow stretch of land connects the northeastern states with the rest of India. Incidents like Doklam stand-off in June 2017 in Sikkim and skirmishes with Chinese troops in the border along Arunachal Pradesh only increase the importance of the Eastern Command. In recent years, China’s rapid weaponisation and construction of military infrastructure along the border with Arunachal Pradesh have underscored the critical importance of the Eastern Army Command’s role.

Because of its strategic location and diverse operational responsibilities, it is one of the most significant commands in the Indian Army. Therefore, it is not surprising that the government considers experience within the Eastern Command as a key factor when making crucial appointments, such as the Chief of Army Staff.

A busy Northern Command

The Northern Command’s tagline ‘Always in Combat’ is no exaggeration, as it is tasked with safeguarding India’s borders with Pakistan (Line of Control) and China (LAC). Recently, the command’s jurisdiction was expanded to include the LAC up to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, extending beyond its previous limits in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Consequently, Strike Corps 1, previously under the South-Western Command in Jaipur, is now part of the Northern Command based in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

It also serves as the nerve center for counterterrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The command oversees diverse and challenging terrains, including the Siachen glacier, cold deserts, high-altitude regions, mountains, and densely forested plains. Many forward areas remain isolated for five to six months annually, requiring air maintenance to sustain them.

The 2020 India-China border standoff, particularly centred around the Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region, was a significant conflict in the ongoing border dispute between the two nations. Tensions escalated in May 2020, with both countries accusing each other of violating the status quo. The standoff reached a critical point on 15 June, 2020, when a violent clash in the Galwan Valley resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese military casualties.

Following the clash, although multiple rounds of diplomatic and military talks were conducted to de-escalate the situation, things have not changed much on the ground. Instead, both nations significantly increased their military presence along the LAC, constructing infrastructure and establishing forward posts, heightening concerns over potential future conflicts. As of now, while direct confrontations have reduced, tensions remain high, with both nations maintaining substantial military deployments.

Although no officer from the Northern Command has ascended to the top position in the army over the past 14 years, this fact does not diminish the command’s significance. It is crucial to recognise that it is largely due to this command’s efforts that Jammu and Kashmir remains an integral part of India, despite Pakistan’s persistent attempts to seize it over the decades.

COAS is beyond commands

Nevertheless, upon becoming Chief of the Army Staff, the individual will transition from other military interests to concentrate exclusively on the comprehensive development of the army. This includes making it agile, technologically advanced, equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, addressing administrative and military gaps and transforming it into a formidable fighting force that instills fear in foes and earns respect from allies.