Overview

• Lt Gen Pratik Sharma officially took charge as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command on May 1, succeeding Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, who retired after a four-decade military career.
• The leadership transition occurs following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which escalated tensions with Pakistan and drew attention to border security in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Northern Command, headquartered in Udhampur, oversees critical operations along the borders with Pakistan and China, as well as counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari will assume the role of Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force on May 2, while Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has already taken over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refuted social media rumors suggesting a Court of Inquiry against Lt Gen Kumar, clarifying his retirement was routine and unrelated to recent events.