Amid the ongoing general elections in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government extended the tenure of the country’s Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande for one month.
The Indian army chief was to retire from service on May 31, according to Indian Express.
“The Appointments Committee of Cabinet on May 26 approved the extension in service of Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj C Pande for a period of one month, beyond his normal age of superannuation (May 31), i.e. up to June 30, under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954,” the publication quoted the defence ministry as saying in a statement.
The top Indian general was commissioned in December 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers).
He held the post of Vice Chief of the Army Staff before taking over the reins of the 1.2 million-strong force in April 2022.
The development comes as Indian is holding elections in phases that began on April 19 and will conclude on June 1, with results due on June 4.
