Indian Army Chief Manoj Pande's tenure extended by One Month

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Government of India, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension of the tenure of the current Army Chief General Manoj Pande for one more month. General Manoj Pande was to retire on 31 May 2024, and his term was extended until 30 June 2024.

The government decided to extend General Manoj Pande's tenure under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954, which deals with retaining officers on the grounds of "exigencies of services."

General Manoj Pande was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers). Before becoming the Army Chief, he was the Vice-Chief of the Indian Army. He took over as the Chief of Army Staff on 30 April 2022.

2nd Instance of the Army Chief Extension 

This is perhaps the second time that the government of India has given a last-minute extension to an Army chief. On April 11, 1974, the Indira Gandhi government gave General G G Bewoor a one-year extension. 

Appointment Committee of the Cabinet 

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet is the highest body which approves the appointment of persons for the top post of the government of India and in some public sector undertakings. The committee comprises the Prime Minister of India and the Union Home Minister. The Prime Minister heads the committee. 

Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh took charge as the Commandant of the NDA 

Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh took charge as the  Commandant of the  National Defence Academy,  Khadakwasla, Pune. He replaced Vice Admiral Ajay Kocchar. 

Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh was also an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla) on July 1, 1990. Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh joined the Indian Navy.

About National Defence Academy 

National Defence Academy is a premier tri-service military education institution in India. It was set up on the recommendation of a committee headed by then Commander-in-Chief of India,  Field Marshal Sir Claude J Auchinleck. The committee was set up in 1945 by the government of India.

Based on the committee's recommendation, the National Defence Academy was formally inaugurated in Khadakwasla, Pune, on 16 January 1955.

Cadets of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Forces are trained here. After successfully completing training, they are inducted as officers in the respective three wings of the Indian Armed Forces.