Deependra Singh Hooda Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant General
Deependra Singh Hooda
Honorific Suffix:PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM**, ADC
Birth Date:1956 11, df=yes
Allegiance: India
Branch:Indian Army
Serviceyears:15 December 1976 - 30 November 2016
Rank: Lieutenant General
Unit:4/4 Gorkha Rifles
Commands: Northern Army
16 Corps
Battles:Kargil War
Awards: Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal (Bar)
Spouse:Rashmi Hooda

Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM & Bar, ADC (born 12 November 1956) is the former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian army's Northern Command.[1] The General Officer was the Northern Army Commander during the 'surgical strike' in September 2016. He is most prominently known for his views on Kashmir with a strong emphasis on human rights. With a career spanning forty years, he has served on both the Northern and Eastern borders of India.[2]

Military career

He did his schooling from St. Columba's School, Delhi. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune. He was commissioned into the Indian Army on 15 December 1976. He spent time in his early career in the 4th Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles, which he later commanded.[3]

His career spanned over four decades. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal (Bar). He has been an instructor at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow and Col GS of a Strike Corps. He has also had tenures in the Military Operations Directorate and the Quarter Master General's Branch at the Army Headquarters. He has also served on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea[4] for which he was awarded the UNMEE Medal.

He retired on 30 November 2016 after nearly 40 years of service in the Indian Army.[5]

Awards and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva MedalUttam Yudh Seva MedalAti Vishist Seva MedalVishisht Seva Medal
Samanya Seva MedalSpecial Service MedalOperation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude Service MedalVidesh Seva Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service MedalUNMEE Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
15 December 1976[6]
Indian Army 15 December 1978[7]
Indian Army 15 December 1982[8]
Indian Army 15 December 1987[9]
Indian Army
Indian Army
Indian Army 4 July 2006[10]
Indian Army 1 April 2010 (seniority from 8 January 2008)[11]
Indian Army 17 August 2012 (substantive)[12]

Personal life

He is married to Rashmi Hooda.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DS Hooda interview: 'The image of youth tied to jeep doesn’t define the Army’s approach to Kashmir'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170421221239/https://scroll.in/article/835174/ds-hooda-interview-the-image-of-youth-tied-to-jeep-doesnt-define-the-armys-approach-to-kashmir. 21 April 2017.
  2. Web site: Peace along the border is not a one-way process, says Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170518183420/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/peace-along-the-border-is-not-a-one-way-process-says-lt-gen-ds-hooda/article18468112.ece. 18 May 2017.
  3. Web site: Lieutenant General D.S. Hooda Profile. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728124408/http://www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com/profile/lt-general-d-s-hooda/. 28 July 2017.
  4. Web site: J&K: Lt Gen D S Hooda took over as new GOC of 16 corps. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903164420/http://post.jagran.com/jk-lt-gen-d-s-hooda-took-over-as-new-goc-of-16-corps-1349352089. 3 September 2017.
  5. Web site: INFORMATION NOTE (11.09.2016). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903163605/http://document.ccis.nic.in/writereaddata/CircularPortal/D2/D02eod/12-80-2016.pdf. 3 September 2017.
  6. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 895 . 6 October 1979 . The Gazette of India.
  7. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 35 . 5 January 1980 . The Gazette of India.
  8. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 644 . 30 April 1983 . The Gazette of India.
  9. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1942 . 31 December 1988 . The Gazette of India.
  10. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 867 . 26 May 2007 . The Gazette of India.
  11. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1067 . 4 June 2011 . The Gazette of India.
  12. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 863 . 8 June 2013 . The Gazette of India.
  13. Web site: Northern Command Chief Visits Chinar Corps. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903164609/http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/community/northern-command-chief-visits-chinar-corps/325528.html. 3 September 2017.