english.dainikjagranmpcg.com
01 Apr 2026 By Abhishek Joshi
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain Takes Charge of Southern Command, Focus on Combat Readiness and Indigenous Capability
Digital Desk
He succeeds Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, who has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Jain was commissioned into the Mahar Regiment in June 1988. Over a military career spanning nearly four decades, he has held several key command and staff appointments across varied operational theatres, reflecting extensive experience in both conventional and counter-insurgency environments.
The senior officer has commanded an infantry battalion in semi-developed terrain and in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, an infantry brigade in a Strike Corps, a counter-insurgency force, and a Pivot Corps in Northern Command. His operational profile includes participation in Operation Pawan, service as a Military Observer with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia, and multiple tenures in high-altitude regions, along the Line of Control, and in the North East. He also serves as the Colonel of the Mahar Regiment.
Before taking over the reins of Southern Command, Lt Gen Jain served as the Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command, where he played a key role in capability enhancement, force restructuring and strengthening overall operational preparedness.
He has attended the Higher Command Course at the Army War College and the National Defence Course in Kenya. In recognition of his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Sena Medal (SM).
Soon after assuming command, Lt Gen Jain paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the Southern Command War Memorial and was accorded a Guard of Honour at the Southern Command Headquarters in Pune.
In his first remarks after taking charge, the Army Commander underlined that Southern Command would continue to prioritise high operational readiness across its wide-ranging areas of responsibility, including deserts, the Rann and Creek sector, coastline, island territories and hinterland zones.
He also stressed the need for deeper jointness among the armed forces, accelerated indigenous capability development, and greater technology absorption under the JAI framework, while directing all ranks to maintain the highest standards of preparedness, professionalism and combat readiness amid evolving security challenges.
Southern Command remains a critical pillar of India’s defence architecture, given its responsibility over sensitive land borders, coastal sectors and strategic hinterland, making the change of guard significant in the broader context of military preparedness and national security.
https://english.dainikjagranmpcg.com/national/lt-gen-sandeep-jain-takes-charge-of-southern-command-focus/article-16388
Latest News
01 Apr 2026 18:11:27
Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, AVSM, SM, on Tuesday assumed command as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Command, one of...
