Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai appointed Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy); will continue as DGMO
The Deputy Chief (Strategy) is a relatively new vertical created to oversee the Indian Army's Operations and Intelligence Directorates, among other important branches. It is considered one of the most crucial appointments within the Indian Army, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence.
On June 4, Lt Gen Ghai was also awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025 (Phase-II), recognising his distinguished service.
In a press briefing on May 12, a couple of days after the cessation of hostilities was announced with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Ghai underlined the preparedness and coordinated response of the Indian armed forces. The operation involved precision strikes against terrorist targets without crossing the Line of Control or the International Boundary. Interestingly, the now Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) had used a cricket analogy, 'Ashes to Ashes', to describe how India employed its multi-layered air defence systems to neutralise incoming aerial threats from Pakistan.
Earlier this year, Lt Gen Ghai had also visited Manipur around February 25 to assess the security situation in the state, especially along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB). During his visit, he held meetings with key state officials, including the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the State Security Advisor, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police. The visit to the conflict-marred region aimed to review the operational preparedness of the Indian Army and assess the status of ongoing border infrastructure projects.
Lt Gen Ghai had then, during his Manipur visit, stressed the importance of a 'whole-of-government approach' to manage security challenges in the region. Discussions focused on normalising the prevailing situation, enhancing border management, and strengthening security infrastructure along the IMB, according to a prior statement from the Ministry of Defence.
Lt Gen Ghai, a senior officer from the Kumaon Regiment, has held several key operational roles in his military career. As the GOC of the Chinar Corps before becoming DGMO, he was at the forefront of counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
On October 25, last year, Lt Gen Ghai assumed his role as DGMO. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
22 minutes ago
- The Print
‘Committed to our objective,' India responds to Trump tariffs, govt studying its implications
A statement by the Commerce and Industry Ministry said that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. New Delhi: India on Wednesday said that it has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade and is studying its implications. It said the Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. 'The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK,' the statement said. US President Donald Trump today in a social media post on his Truth Social Account announced 25 per cent tariffs on India starting August 1. 'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country. Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE – ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!', Trump posted. Trump's announcement came two days ahead of the impending US tariff deadline of August 1 amid hopes of an interim India-US trade that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. Over the past few months, India and the US have been negotiating for an interim trade deal, but there were some reservations from the Indian side on the US demand for opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors for the US. Agriculture and dairy are critical for India as these two sectors provide livelihood opportunities to a large section of its people. India reportedly faces US demands, including allowing remanufactured goods, opening up agriculture and dairy, accepting genetically modified (GM) feed, and adopting US rules on digital trade and product standards. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
West Bengal CM Mamata announces ₹1.10 lakh grant to each Durga Puja committee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a coordination meeting with the organisers of the Durga Puja Community in Kolkata on Thursday. She announced ₹1 lakh 10 thousand as a grant to each Durga Puja committee in the state. Chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee during the a co-ordination meeting with the organizers of community Durga Puja in Kolkata on Thursday(Samir Jana/Hindustan Times) Addressing a huge gathering, Mamata Banerjee said, "Each Durga Puja committee in West Bengal will now receive ₹1 lakh 10 thousand as a grant fund from the West Bengal government. We organise this meeting every year ahead of the Durga puja for proper coordination, and there should be no shortcomings in traffic arrangements, drinking water, health facilities, or electricity." "People from every religion are included, as there is a culture in Bengal. We participate in cultural festivals of every religion. Durga Puja is inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, so it is our responsibility to organise it properly," CM Banerjee said. She further said that some people allege that Mamata Banerjee does not allow the conduct of Durga Puja. "It is alleged that I do not allow the conduct of Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja, but the fact is that Saraswati Puja is conducted in every home. There are no festivals which are not conducted here. 45,000 pujas are conducted in clubs, in the state police area, it is over 42,000, in the Kolkata police area, it is nearly 3000," CM Mamata highlighted. "Idol immersion will take place on October 2,3, and 4. Mobile patrolling team, quick response team, drone, CCTV, all facilities will have to be provided. The police control room will work for 24 hours. A stampede-like situation should be averted," she instructed. The West Bengal CM announced an 80 per cent concession in electricity bills for the puja committees. She said that a one-window system is available for NOC-related permission for the Puja committees. The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the Hindu goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur. Hindu mythology holds that the goddess comes to her earthly abode at this time to bless her devotees. The significance of Durga Puja goes beyond religion and is revered as the celebration of compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art and culture. From the reverberation of 'dhaak' and new clothes to delicious food, there remains a merry mood during these days. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi backs Trump's ‘dead' Indian economy remark, his colleagues disagree: Who said what
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backed US President Donald Trump's "dead" Indian economy remark. At the same time, his party colleagues as well as the INDIA bloc allies felt otherwise. Rahul Gandhi's colleague and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that if America's demands are completely unreasonable, then India's negotiators have every right to resist.(PTI) After announcing the 25 per cent tariff and an unspecified penalty on New Delhi, Trump had said that India and Russia "can take their dead economies down together". Rahul Gandhi was asked about the remark in the Parliament complex, to which he replied, "Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact... The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy." Rahul Gandhi's colleagues feel otherwise Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that it is a "very serious matter" for India". He said, "25, plus an unspecified penalty for our buying oil and gas from Russia, it could take it up to 35-45... There's even talk of a 100% penalty, which will destroy our trade with America... The trade negotiations are still going on, and there is a possibility that this may come down. If it doesn't, it will damage our exports, because America is a very big market for us." Tharoor further added that if America's demands are completely unreasonable, then India's negotiators have every right to resist. "America has to understand our needs as well. Our tariffs on America are not that unreasonable. It's about 17 per cent average. American goods are not priced competitively enough to sell in the Indian market," he told news agency ANI. Rajeev Shukla Congress MP Rajeev Shukla slammed Trump and said that his 'dead' Indian economy remark "is wrong". "The Indian economy is not dead. Economic reforms were made when PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms forward. Manmohan Singh strengthened it in the 10 years. The current government has also worked on it," he told ANI. Shukla further defended the country and said that India's economic condition is not at all weak. "If someone claims they can finish us economically, it's likely due to a misunderstanding," he added. The Congress leader said that Trump was "living in a delusion", adding that imposing tariffs is wrong. "Every nation has the right to trade with the nation it wants. Restricting them, speaking against the BRICS, speaking against trade and import from Russia, this is not right," Shukla added. Imraan Masood Congress MP Imraan Masood expressed solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi while condemning the US President's remark on the Indian economy. "This government is not ready to speak even a single word on Trump... Have we become slaves of America? America is threatening us every day... What he (Donald Trump) said today is very objectionable. The whole country will stand firmly with PM Modi against this. But he should answer Trump," he told ANI. Priyanka Chaturvedi Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi hit out at Trump's "arrogance" and "ignorance" for his 'dead' Indian economy comment. "Not that one needs to say it there's enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" she said in a post on X. RJD MP Manoj Jha said that Trump's remark was not just on the government but on the entire nation. "It has been a tradition in the Rajya Sabha to ask for clarifications, but any possibility of that was ruled out today... This was not just a comment on the government but on India," he added.
