Indian military set for key leadership changes

The Indian military is set for key leadership changes over the next two days, with new appointments at the Northern Command of the Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the tri-services coordination setup under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Lt Gen Pratik Sharma will take over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the strategically crucial Northern Command tomorrow, following the retirement of Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar. Headquartered at Udhampur, the Northern Command is tasked with operational responsibilities along both Pakistan and China borders, as well as counter-terrorism operations.

Lt Gen Sharma, commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the Madras Regiment, previously served as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy). He has also commanded the Ambala-based 2 Corps and served as Director General of Military Operations.

Amid speculation around his predecessor, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a fact check on Wednesday, dismissing social media claims — allegedly circulated by ISI-linked proxies — that a formal Court of Inquiry had been ordered against Lt Gen Kumar.

In the IAF, Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari has been appointed as Vice Chief, succeeding Air Marshal SP Dharkar, who superannuated. A Mirage fighter pilot and former chief test pilot for the Tejas programme, Air Marshal Tiwari currently heads the South Western Air Command in Gandhinagar. He will assume charge on May 2.

The third top-level change is in the tri-services structure. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently heading the Central Air Command, will be the new Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). He replaces Lt Gen JP Mathew, who retired today after laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

The Ministry of Defence lauded Lt Gen Mathew’s contributions in strengthening India’s cyber and space defence capabilities through the expansion of the Defence Cyber Agency and Defence Space Agency.

India