New Delhi, July 1, 2026
Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) on Wednesday.
His appointment to the post marks the completion of the leadership transition at the Army headquarters as General Dhiraj Seth took over as the 31st Army Chief, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, while Lt Gen Sandeep Jain fills the post vacated by the incumbent Army Chief.
Lt General Sandeep Jain, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), was commissioned into the MAHAR Regiment in June 1988.
A day ago, the Vice Army Chief laid a wreath at the Southern Command War Memorial in Pune to pay homage to the bravehearts and fallen soldiers.
In his message to all ranks of Southern Command, the Army Commander called upon every soldier to remain mission-ready, maintain uncompromising operational preparedness and stand ready to respond decisively to emerging and evolving security challenges.
Lt General Sandeep Jain, with a career spanning over four decades, has held a wide range of command and staff appointments across diverse operational environments.
He has commanded an Infantry Battalion in semi-desert terrain as well as in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, an Infantry Brigade in a Strike Corps, a Counter Insurgency Force and a Pivot Corps in Northern Command.
His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan, service as a Military Observer with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and multiple tenures in high-altitude areas and counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and in the North East.
On promotion to Lieutenant General, he commanded a Corps in Northern Command. He later served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command, where he contributed significantly to capability development, force restructuring and overall operational preparedness. On elevation as Army Commander, he served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.
In his distinguished career, Lieutenant General Jain has held key staff and operational appointments across varied formations and headquarters. His assignments have provided him deep exposure to conventional operations, counter-insurgency, high-altitude areas, United Nations missions and force preparedness in diverse terrain.(Agency)
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