Gen Manoj Pande took charge yesterday as the 29th Army Chief of Staff.
New Delhi:
Newly-appointed army chief General Manoj Pande said on Sunday that his “outmost and foremost” priority would be to ensure very high standards of operational readiness to meet current, present and future security challenges across the spectrum of conflicts.
Gen Pande also said he would focus on the ongoing reforms, restructuring and transformation of the military to improve operational and functional efficiency.
The army chief spoke to the media after being given a ceremonial guard of honor on the lawns of South Block, a day after taking charge of the force.
Gen Pande said the global geopolitical situation is changing rapidly “giving us multiple challenges ahead of us”.
“My top priority will be to ensure very high standards of operational readiness to face today’s contemporary and future challenges across the spectrum of conflicts,” he said.
The army chief said his force, in conjunction with the Indian Air Force and Navy, will effectively address any potential security issues facing the country.
“In terms of capabilities development and armed forces modernization, my attempt would be to harness new technologies through indigenousness and self-reliance,” he said.
Gen Manoj Pande took charge as the 29th Army Chief of Staff on Saturday after incumbent General MM Naravane retired.
Gen Pande, who was the vice-chief, became the very first officer of the Corps of Engineers to take over the reins of the 1.3 million-strong force.
Before taking charge as Deputy Army Chief of Staff on Feb. 1, General Pande headed the Eastern Army Command, which oversees the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.
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