Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai Appointed as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy)

New Role for Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, who was previously engaged in discussions regarding a ceasefire with Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations last month, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) as of Monday. He will continue to serve as the DGMO. This newly established Deputy Chief (Strategy) position is designed to oversee and coordinate the Operations and Intelligence Directorates along with other significant branches of the Indian Army.

An official announcement from the Ministry of Defence on LinkedIn highlighted that the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff role is arguably the most crucial appointment within the Indian Army. On June 4, Lt Gen Ghai received the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025 (Phase-II) in recognition of his exceptional service.

During a press briefing on May 12, shortly after the ceasefire with Pakistan was declared following the conclusion of Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Ghai elaborated on the readiness and collaborative maturity displayed by the Indian armed forces.

The operation focused on precision strikes against 'terrorist' targets, successfully executing them without breaching the Line of Control or the International Boundary.

Earlier this year, on February 25, Lt Gen Ghai traveled to Manipur to assess the situation, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar Border. He engaged with several key state officials, including Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the State Security Advisor, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police. This visit aimed to evaluate the operational readiness of the Indian Army and to review the progress of border infrastructure projects currently underway.

A senior officer from the Kumaon Regiment, Lt Gen Ghai has held various significant operational roles throughout his military career. Prior to his appointment as DGMO on October 25 of last year, he served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Chinar Corps, where he led counter-insurgency efforts in Jammu and Kashmir.