Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande: Newly appointed Chief of Indian Army, General Manoj Pande on Sunday said his utmost and foremost priority would be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness of Indian Army to face current, contemporary and future security challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict.
General Pande, who succeeded General MM Naravane on Saturday, also said that he would focus on the ongoing reforms, restructuring and transformation of the Army to enhance its operational and functional efficiency.
The Army chief was speaking to the media after he was presented a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block lawns, a day after he took charge of the force. General Manoj Pande said the global geopolitical situation is changing rapidly and as a result of which the country was facing multiple challenges.
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“My utmost and foremost priority will be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness to face the current contemporary and future challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict,” General Pande said.
Gen Pande (L) succeeded Gen Naravane (R) as 29th chief of Indian Army. (April 30, 2022)
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The Army chief said his force, in coordination with the Indian Air Force and Navy, will effectively deal with all possible security challenges facing the nation.
“In terms of capability development and force modernisation, my effort would be to leverage new technologies through indigenisation and self-reliance,” he said.
Manoj Pande Saturday took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff after incumbent Gen MM Naravane retired from service.
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Manoj Pande, who was serving as the Vice Chief, became the first-ever officer from the Corps of Engineers to take the reins of the 1.3 million-strong force.
Before taking charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff on February 1, General Manoj Pande was heading the Eastern Army Command that takes care of guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.
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