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Manoj Pande Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth6 May 1962

Age62 Years

BirthplaceNagpur

ProfessionArmy Personnel

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseArchana Salpekar

FamilyFather: Dr C G Pande; Mother: Prema Pande; Brothers: Ketan and Sanket

Manoj Pande Biography

Manoj Chandrashekhar Pande is a senior Indian Army officer who became the 29th Chief of Army Staff. Commissioned into the Bombay Sappers in 1982, he is the

Early life and background

Manoj Chandrashekhar Pande was born on 6 May 1962 in Nagpur, where he was brought up and completed his schooling. He attended the National Defence Academy and subsequently the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun to begin his military career. Further professional military education includes courses at Staff College, Camberley (UK), Army War College in Mhow and the National Defence College in New Delhi.

Career

Pande was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (Bombay Sappers) in December 1982. Over four decades of service, he has held a wide range of command and staff appointments across different formations and theatres. Early regimental and formation postings included command of the 117 Engineer Regiment during Operation Parakram and service as brigade major of a mountain brigade in Northeast India after returning from Staff College in the United Kingdom.

At the lieutenant colonel level he served as Chief Engineer for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. On return from the Army War College he served as Colonel Q at the headquarters of an 8 Mountain Division. As a brigadier he commanded the 474th Engineering Brigade in Western Command and later the 52 Infantry Brigade positioned along the Line of Control.

Promoted to major general, he took command of the 8 Mountain Division and served as Additional Director General Military Operations at Army Headquarters. Upon elevation to lieutenant general, Pande served as Chief of Staff of Southern Command, commanded the Gajraj Corps in Eastern Command, and became the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to hold that corps command.

On 1 June 2020 he assumed charge as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. A year later, on 2 June 2021, he became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command. He was appointed Vice Chief of the Army Staff following the retirement of his predecessor on 31 January 2022.

In April 2022 he was appointed the 29th Chief of Army Staff, notable as the first officer from the Corps of Engineers and the first from combat support branches to reach that post. He formally took over as Chief of Army Staff on 30 April 2022. In May 2024 the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet granted him a one-month extension as Chief of the Army Staff until 30 June 2024.

Designations and ranks

Pande's service record shows steady promotion through the commissioned ranks from second lieutenant in December 1982 to lieutenant general in September 2017. His major appointments include Additional Director General in the Military Operations directorate at Army Headquarters, Chief of Staff of Southern Command, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command, Vice Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Army Staff.

Honours and recognitions

Throughout his service he has been awarded multiple military decorations, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. His medals list also includes a range of service and campaign honours such as the Sainya Seva Medal, Videsh Seva Medal, Special Service Medal, and medals marking participation in operations and long service.

Public profile

Pande is married to Archana Salpekar, a gold medallist from the Government Dental College and Hospital, and the couple married on 3 May 1987. His father, Dr C. G. Pande, served as a consulting physiotherapist and was head of the Department of Psychology at Nagpur University. His mother, Prema Pande, worked as an announcer and host with All India Radio. He has two brothers, Ketan and Sanket, the latter a retired Indian Army colonel.

Personal details and attributes

Listed physical details include a height of approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and salt-and-pepper hair with black eyes. His service number is recorded as IC-40716F. Educationally, his qualifications include an engineering degree earned at the National Defence Academy and higher command and staff courses at recognized military institutions in India and abroad.

Latest updates

In late April 2022 Pande assumed the office of Chief of Army Staff, succeeding General Manoj Mukund Naravane. The government extended his tenure by one month through 30 June 2024 as recorded in May 2024.
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Recent Work

Chief of Army Staff

Assumed office as the 29th Chief of Army Staff on 30 April 2022; tenure extended by one month until 30 June 2024.

2022-2024
Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command

Served as the 15th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command beginning 1 June 2020.

2020-2021
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command

Took command of Eastern Command on 2 June 2021.

2021-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. First officer from the Corps of Engineers to be appointed Chief of Army Staff
  2. Commanded 8 Mountain Division and Gajraj Corps
  3. Served as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manoj Pande born?

6 May 1962

What is Manoj Pande known for?

Army Personnel

What is Manoj Pande’s marital status?

Married

Who is Manoj Pande married to?

Archana Salpekar