The Appointments Committee of Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted a rare extension in service to army chief General Manoj Pande, just days before his scheduled retirement on May 31. This unexpected decision has intensified speculation over who will succeed as the next chief of the world’s second largest army.

The Indira Gandhi government granted the first and only extension of its kind over five decades ago to General GG Bewoor. He succeeded Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw as army chief in January 1973.

The defence ministry announced a one-month extension for Pande until June 30 under the relevant army regulations. This date holds significance as it coincides with the retirement of two senior most generals who are believed to be contenders for the top post.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the army vice chief and widely regarded as the frontrunner for the position, currently holds the highest rank in service after Pande. Following him is Lieutenant General AK Singh, the commander of the Southern Army.

Both Dwivedi and Singh, who were commissioned into the army in December 1984, are set to retire on June 30. It is worth noting that a senior officer can still be appointed as the service chief even if they are retiring on the same day as the outgoing chief.

The decision to extend Pande's service comes at a time when there were widespread expectations that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government would announce the next army chief before Pande's retirement.

According to a statement from the Appointments Committee of Cabinet on May 26, 2024, the extension for Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande was approved for a period of one month beyond his normal retirement date of May 31, 2024. This extension was granted under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954.

Pande assumed the role of army chief on April 30, 2022, succeeding General Manoj Mukund Naravane. Traditionally, successive governments have adhered to the seniority principle when appointing service chiefs, although there have been rare instances of senior-most officers being overlooked for the top post.

Notable examples include the appointment of General Bipin Rawat as army chief in 2016 by the NDA government, and Admiral Robin Dhowan being appointed as navy chief in 2014 by the United Progressive Alliance government.

Following Dwivedi and Singh, the top generals include Northern Army commander Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, Central Army commander Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Western Army commander Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, South Western Army commander Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Army Training Command chief Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, and Eastern Army commander Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari.

The extension granted to Pande has sparked speculation about his successor, with the possibility of the senior-most officer or any of the army commanders being considered. The extension is reminiscent of Bewoor's tenure, which resulted in Lieutenant General PS Bhagat being overlooked for the army chief's position. Pande's extension has surprised many, especially considering he was recently honoured during the Retiring Officers' Seminar for his distinguished service.

A top retired officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that it is the government's responsibility to select the most suitable candidate for the role of army chief. He urged for this process to be conducted transparently and decisively. He criticised any last-minute decisions before the appointment, noting that such actions only lead to unnecessary instability within the organisation.

Image source: PTI