By Staff Correspondent
Just days before his scheduled retirement, the government formally announced a one-month extension for Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, marking a momentous event in Indian military history. Gen. Pande’s planned retirement date was May 31, but he will be able to stay on until June 30 thanks to an extension that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet authorized.
In accordance with Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet granted Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj C. Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, an extension in service of one month beyond his normal age of superannuation (May 31, 2024) until June 30, 2024, on May 26, 2024. April 30, 2022, was the date of his appointment as COAS. The Bombay Sappers, the Corps of Engineers, commissioned him in December 1982. He assumed the position of COAS after serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
A chief of staff usually stays in their position for three years or until they reach the age of 62, whichever comes first. An army chief has only been granted an extension three times in the history of the Indian Army. One of them was the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was extended his term as Army Chief by six months. The second was General G G Bewoor, who succeeded Manekshaw and was extended a year’s tenure by Indira Gandhi, the previous prime minister.
