Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava has been appointed as the new commander of the Kashmir Valley-based Chinar Corps, with his tenure set to begin on October 15. Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava, a seasoned officer with extensive experience in counter-terrorism operations, will take over from Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, who is slated to assume the role of Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) at Army Headquarters.
The transition in command will occur two weeks after the conclusion of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava has a distinguished career, having been involved in combat operations across various regions with high insurgency levels, including Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast. His familiarity with the Kashmir Valley is notable, with multiple tenures served in the region. Before his move to Army Headquarters, he commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Force in the Valley, overseeing numerous operations aimed at curbing militant activities.
Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai will continue to lead the Chinar Corps’ security operations in the Kashmir Valley and along the Line of Control until the formal handover. Following the transition, he will succeed Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma as the new Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
The recent changes in command are part of a broader reshuffling of senior Army positions, including the appointment of officers to new roles such as the 3 Corps in Dimapur and the Army War College Commandant, as announced on July 22.
Jammu and Kashmir is preparing for its Assembly elections after a decade-long hiatus. The three-phase election will commence on September 18 and conclude on October 1, with the results scheduled to be announced on October 4.
