General Opendra Dwevedi retired as Army Chief on Tuesday after over four decades of illustrious service in the army and has been succeeded by General Dheeraj Seth as the new Army Chief.
General Dwevedi's tenure will be remembered for maintaining the highest level of operational preparedness, strengthening synergy among various arms of the army, accelerating the transformation process and adoption of technology, reorganizing the army, and promoting soldier-centric actions. As Army Chief, General Dwevedi gave utmost priority to operational preparedness across all sectors. Under his leadership, the army maintained a strong and vigilant stance on the northern borders under 'Operation Snow Leopard' and discharged its responsibilities with firmness, patience, and professionalism on the western front.
'Operation Sandor' was a historic operation during his tenure, demonstrating the army's preparedness, accuracy, and thoughtful action in a changing security environment. The General Officer provided strong direction to the army's 'Decade of Transformation'. Under his guidance, the army undertook reorganization, modernization, adoption of technology, integration, and improvement in human resource management. Furthermore, under a major effort to build a modern, agile, and future-ready army, initiatives such as the Ruder Brigade, Bhiro Battalion, Ashvini Drone Platoon, Shakti Man Regiment, Devisaster Battery, Electronic Warfare Brigade, and Integrated Battle Group were pushed forward.
Emphasizing better synergy among the three services, he continuously promoted greater integration, similar operational thought, and better coordination between the army, navy, and air force, considering the requirements of future 'Joint, Integrated and Theater-Oriented Operations'.
During his tenure, the welfare of serving personnel, veterans, brave women, and families remained a top priority. He initiated several measures to strengthen the army's bond with soldiers and veterans, including initiatives such as the 'Veterans Achievers Award' to honor their contribution. He also consistently emphasized that the army's responsibility towards its personnel and their families is not limited to just active service.
The General Officer also guided the development of 'Strategic Security Guidelines 2047', inspired by 'Viksit Bharat Vision 2047' and 'Armed Forces Vision 2047', for the army's future preparedness with foresight. For his distinguished service, General Dwevedi has been awarded the prestigious 'Param Vishisht Seva Medal' and 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal'.