Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Rajesh Pushkar

Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, AVSM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He is currently serving as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command. He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding II Corps and as the Director General of Territorial Army. He is also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Armoured Corps.

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Lieutenant General
Rajesh Pushkar
AVSM VSM
Official portrait, 2026
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Southern Command
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 July 2026
Chief of Army StaffDhiraj Seth
Preceded bySandeep Jain
Personal details
RelationsSunanda Pushkar (Sister)
Shashi Tharoor (Brother-in-Law)1
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Army
Years of service
17 December 1988 – Present
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit74 Armoured Regiment
Commands
Service numberIC-48046A2
Awards

Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, AVSM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He is currently serving as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.3 He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding II Corps and as the Director General of Territorial Army.4 He is also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Armoured Corps.5

Early life and education

Pushkar is one of three children born to Lieutenant Colonel Pushkar Nath Dass and Jaya Dass. His elder sister Sunanda Pushkar was a businesswoman and was married to Shashi Tharoor.67

Pushkar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is also an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.8 He holds a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies, a Masters in Management Studies and a Master of Philosophy in Defence and International Relations.3

Military career

Pushkar was commissioned into the 74th Armoured Regiment on 17 December 1988 from the Indian Military Academy. In a career spanning over three decades he has held various command and staff appointments. He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He also served as an instructor at his alma mater, the National Defence Academy.3

As a Colonel, Pushkar commanded an armoured regiment in an operational area, served as Colonel Military Secretary (Col MS) in a Strike Corps and as Colonel General Staff (Col GS) of an Armoured Division in the Western Sector. As a Brigadier, he commanded the 14th Independent Armoured Brigade, served as Brigadier Quartermaster General (Brig Q) of a Strike Corps and Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of an Operational Command. He undertook an diplomatic assignment as Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India, Moscow, with accreditation to Armenia and Belarus.93

General officer

As a Major General, Pushkar commanded the 15th Infantry Division in the western sector.10 He also served as the Commandant of Indian Military Training Team, Bhutan in Bhutan and as the Additional Director General, Armoured Corps at Army headquarters, New Delhi.11 On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, he assumed the appointment of Director General of Territorial Army.

After a short stint as DGTA, on 1 July 2024, Pushkar took over as the General Officer Commanding, II Corps succeeding Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh.1213 He was in command of II Corps during Operation Sindoor.14 On 1 July 2026, Lieutenant General Pushkar took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command succeeding Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain upon his elevation as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.3

Awards and decorations

Pushkar was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 20252 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016.15 He has also received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation and three Army Commander Commendations.

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Star Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Second Lieutenant Indian Army 17 December 1988
Lieutenant Indian Army 17 December 199016
Captain Indian Army 17 December 199317
Major Indian Army 17 December 199918
Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army 16 December 200419
Colonel Indian Army 17 December 200820
Brigadier Indian Army 1 December 2014 (acting)

1 February 2016 (substantive with seniority from 24 September 2012)21

Major General Indian Army 1 February 2022 (seniority from 20 November 2018)22
Lieutenant General Indian Army 2024
References

References

  1. Tharoor, Shashi (7 July 2024). "Proud that my brother-in-law Lt.Gen Rajesh Pushkar has just assumed command of the Kharga Corps in Ambala!". x.com.
  2. "President approves Gallantry awards to 93 Armed Forces personnel, including 11 posthumous & 305 defence decorations on the eve of Republic Day 2025". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  3. "LT GEN RAJESH PUSHKAR AVSM, VSM ASSUMES COMMAND OF SOUTHERN COMMAND". pib.gov.in. 1 July 2026.
  4. "Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar takes over as GOC of Kharga Corps". The Tribune. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  5. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). egazette.gov.in. The Gazette of India. p. 176. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  6. Service, Express News (27 March 2014). "Sunanda's Family Comes Out Against 'Unfounded Speculation'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  7. Team, DNA Web. "Sunanda Pushkar's father pleads that his daughter be left alone". DNA India. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. Dolare, Rahul (1 July 2026). "Pune: Southern Command Welcomes New Army Commander as Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar Assumes Office". Punekar News. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  9. "Armenia defense minister, India Ambassador discuss cooperation in defense sector". Armenia News. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  10. "Annual Achievers award Ceremony - Zenith 2022 held on Saturday". The Times of India. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  11. "Maj Gen Rajesh Pushkar, ADG Armoured Corps, gave the strategic & operational perspective on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict to the Future Leaders of #Indian Armed Forces at CDM, IDS". x.com. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  12. "Lt Gen Pushkar joins Kharga Corps". The Times of India. 2 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  13. "Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 concludes successfully". The Times of India. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  14. ""Operation Sindoor brought Pakistan to knees in 4 days": Lt General Rajesh Pushkar". ANI News. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  15. "The President has approved awards of 365 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of the 67th Republic Day Celebrations". pib.gov.in. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  16. Government of India (27 February 1993). Union Government, Weekly, 1993-02-27, CSL, Ref. CSL.
  17. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). egazette.gov.in. 14 May 1994. p. 75. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  18. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). egazette.gov.in. 6 May 2000. p. 599. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  19. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). egazette.gov.in. 27 August 2005. p. 99. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  20. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). egazette.gov.in. 23 October 2010. p. 42. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  21. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). egazette.gov.in. p. 42. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  22. "The Gazette of India: Part I-Section 4" (PDF). Department of Publications, Government of India. 13 April 2024. p. 819.