NEW DELHI, 27 May 2024 (TON): An official statement from Indian Ministry of Defence said, “the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, on 26 May 2024, approved the extension in service of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj C. Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC for a period of one month, beyond his normal age of superannuation up to 30 June 2024, under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954."

General Manoj Pande was commissioned in December 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers). He held the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff before taking over as the COAS on 30 April 2022.

The successor of General Pande is yet to be announced. However, there are reports that Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, commissioned into 18 Jammu and Kashmir (JAK) Rifles in December 1984 and presently doing as Vice Chief of Army Staff is likely to be appointed as the next Indian Army Chief as he is senior as per the date of commission. There are some reports that await clearance from the Western quarters and an alternative name is also circulating including further extension.