Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar assumed command of Southern Command

Key facts

• He assumed command as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command, succeeding Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain who became Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
• He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the 74 Armoured Regiment in December 1988.
• He served as General Officer Commanding 2 Corps during Operation SINDOOR and has commanded an Armoured Regiment, an Independent Armoured Brigade, an Infantry Division, and a Strike Corps.
• His staff appointments include Additional Director General, Armoured Corps and Director General Territorial Army, and he had international postings in Bhutan and as Defence and Military Attache in Moscow with accreditation to Armenia and Belarus.
• He holds the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), and received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation and three Army Commander's Commendations.