It s an unusual occurrence for a three-star general to take over as Vice Chief first, before serving as an Army Commander. Vice Chiefs have traditionally been people who had previously served as Army commanders.
Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar has been appointed as the next Director General of Military Operations. He would take charge of the new office on May 1st, as per Zee Media report.
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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 5
Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding of 1 Corps, a strike formation responsible for undertaking offensive operations against both Pakistan and China.
Prior to this appointment, he was posted as Director General Staff Duties at Army Headquarters. He took over from Lt Gen CP Cariappa today.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Katiyar was commissioned in 23rd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment in June 1986, which he later commanded along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in Arunachal Pradesh. He also commanded an infantry brigade along the western borders and a mountain division.