Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, AVSM, SM, has officially taken on the role of Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), effective from 1 July 2026. This appointment follows his term as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Southern Command, a position he assumed on 1 April 2026 after succeeding General Dhiraj Seth, who was elevated to the role of VCOAS.
An officer of the prestigious 13 Mahar Regiment, Lt Gen Jain was commissioned into the Indian Army on 11 June 1988 after graduating from the Indian Military Academy (IMA). A distinguished alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, he further enhanced his military education at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington and the National Defence College in Kenya.
Over a remarkable career spanning more than 38 years, Lt Gen Jain has held a variety of important command and staff positions. His notable command assignments include leading the XVI Corps, known as the White Knight Corps, in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as overseeing operations at the Indian Military Academy and the Southern Command. Prior to his recent role as Army Commander, he served as the Chief of Staff at Southern Command.
In terms of operational experience, Lt Gen Jain has held several frontline positions. He served as a Sector Commander with the United Nations Mission in Sudan, led an infantry brigade as part of a Strike Corps, and headed a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. His significant contributions extend to roles in the Military Operations Directorate, Military Secretary’s Branch, and as Director General (Capability Development) at Army Headquarters. Additionally, he has experience as a Military Observer in Ethiopia.
Since 1 August 2024, Lt Gen Jain has also served as the Colonel of the Mahar Regiment, thereby maintaining a close relationship with one of the Indian Army’s most decorated infantry units.
In recognition of his exemplary service, he has been awarded multiple honors, including the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Sena Medal (SM), along with a range of operational, service, and long-service decorations.
As he steps into the position of Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain is expected to leverage his extensive operational, instructional, and strategic leadership background to bolster the Indian Army’s focus on operational excellence, capability development, and future preparedness.
