Lt. Gen. S. Padmanabhan


Commissioned into the regiment of Artillery on 13th December 1959, the general has the distinction of having held several staff, commands and instructional assignments. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College. Having commanded the famous Gazala Mountain Artillery regiment, he commanded one artillery brigade, two infantry brigades, and an Infantry division in the Western sector.

The general officer was commanding the Srinagar corps when the Hazratbal Crisis broke out and his quick handling of the situation won him many plaudits. Thereafter he went to Army Head Quarters as the Director General of Military Intelligence. Incidentally he shall be the first Army Chief to have been DGMI. He took over as the Northern Army Commander in September 1996, and was shifted to Southern Army Commander in January last year. His staff appointments include Brigade Major of an infantry brigade on its raising, Colonel General Staff of a mountain division, instructor in Gunnery School of Artillery and the Chief of Staff of a corps in the Eastern sector. He is the senior Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Artillery. The general has been decorated with the PVSM, and the VSM by the President of India for his distinguished services.