Pushpendra Pal Singh

The general officer is an alumnus of La Martinière College, Lucknow and the Lucknow University.^[7] He then attended the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He also attended the Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Higher Defence Management Course at College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and Advance Professional Programme in Public Administration at Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. He holds a master's in management studies from Osmania University and a master's in philosophy from Punjabi University.^[3]

He was commissioned into the 4th battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) on 19 December 1987 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.^[8] In a career spanning over 37 years, he has tenanted various Command and Staff appointments and served across various operational, field and highly active Counter Insurgency area. He participated in numerous military operations, including Operation Pawan, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Rakshak and Operation Orchid. He also served in the United Nations under UNIFIL and Sri Lanka.^[9] He commanded a Special Forces Unit in the Kashmir Valley and on the Line of Control. As a brigadier, he served as the brigade commander of an Infantry Brigade and as a Major general, he has commanded a Mountain Division during 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes. Later on, he served as MG GS at headquarters Central Command. He has also served at the Infantry School, situated at Mhow and at the Strategic Forces Command.^[10]

After getting promoted to the rank of Lieutenant general, he assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, Central Command. Later on, 14 April 2022, he took over as the General Officer Commanding IX Corps.^[10] A year later in June 2023, he was appointed as the Director General Operational Logistics & Strategic Movement.^[4]

On 1 August 2025, Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh took over as the 48th Vice Chief of the Army Staff succeeding Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani when the latter superannuated on 31 July 2025.^[11] He relinquished the appointment of Vice Chief of Army Staff on 30 March 2026.^[12] On 1 April 2026, he took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command succeeding Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar who superannuated on 31 March 2026.^[2]

The general officer has been awarded with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025^[13], the Sena Medal in 2015^[14] and a Bar to Sena Medal^[i] in 2021.^[15] He has also been awarded with COAS Commendation card twice and Army Commander's commendation.