New Delhi: Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar has officially taken charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Southern Command of the Indian Army on July 1, 2026. The senior officer succeeded Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, who has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Defence.
Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar Takes Charge of Southern Command
Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, AVSM, VSM, officially assumed command of the Southern Command on 1 July 2026. He takes over from Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, AVSM, SM, who has been appointed as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
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Who is Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar
Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA). He was commissioned into the 74 Armoured Regiment in December 1988. He has served the Indian Army for more than 38 years and has held several important command, staff, and instructional appointments across different parts of India. Most recently, he commanded the II Corps (Kharga Corps) during Operation Sindoor, where he provided strategic leadership.
Distinguished Military Career
During his long career, Lt Gen Pushkar has commanded:
- An Armoured Regiment in an operational area.
- An Independent Armoured Brigade.
- An Infantry Division.
- A premier Strike Corps in the Western Sector.
He has also served in several senior staff appointments, including:
- Colonel Military Secretary at Strike Corps.
- Colonel General Staff of an Armoured Division.
- Brigadier General Staff of a Strike Corps.
- Brigadier General Staff at an Operational Command.
- Additional Director General, Armoured Corps Centre.
- Director General Territorial Army.
- Instructor at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
International Experience
Lt Gen Pushkar has valuable international military experience. He served with the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan and later worked as the Defence and Military Attaché at the Embassy of India in Moscow, with accreditation to Armenia and Belarus.
Education and Honours
The senior Army officer has completed advanced military education from:
- National Defence Academy.
- Defence Services Staff College.
- College of Defence Management.
- National Defence College.
He also holds Master’s degrees in:
- Defence and Strategic Studies.
- Management Studies.
- Philosophy in Defence and International Relations.
His military honours include:
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)
- Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)
- Chief of the Army Staff Commendation.
- Three Army Commander’s Commendations.
First Message After Taking Charge
After assuming command, Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar paid tribute to the brave soldiers at the Southern Command War Memorial and received a Guard of Honour. He reaffirmed the Southern Command’s commitment to maintaining high operational readiness.
He also highlighted the importance of jointness among the armed forces, indigenous capability development, and the rapid integration of emerging technologies into military operations.
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