Gen Pande is the most senior Army officer in the country and has spent most of his career serving along the northern borders facing China. This is significant as India’s two-year standoff with China remains unresolved.
Gen Manoj Pande, who was serving as the Vice Chief since February, took over as the new Army Chief from Gen MM Naravane on Saturday on his retirement. Gen Naravane had taken over as the Army Chief in January 2020, months before the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020.
Gen Pande will have a tenure of a little more than two years.
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