Manoj Kumar Katiyar Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant General
Manoj Kumar Katiyar
Honorific Suffix:AVSM
Office:General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command
Term Start:1 July 2023
1Blankname:Chief of Army Staff
1Namedata:Manoj Pande
Upendra Dwivedi
Predecessor:Nav Kumar Khanduri
Serviceyears:14 June 1986 – present
Rank: Lieutenant General
Military Blank1:Service number
Military Data1:IC-43725N [1]
Unit:23 Rajput Regiment
Commands:
Military Blank2:Awards
Military Data2:

Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, AVSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command.[2] He earlier served as the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) at IHQ of MoD (Army),[3] prior to that he was General Officer Commanding I Corps.[4] He is also the Colonel of the Rajput Regiment since 1 February 2022.[5]

Early life and education

The general officer is an alumnus of Sainik School, Ghorakhal. He then attended the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He has done all important courses to include Defence Services Staff Course, Wellington and National Defence College course. Besides, he is also a Distinguished graduate of National War College, USA.[6]

Military career

He was commissioned into the 23th battalion of the Rajput Regiment in June 1986 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. In a distinguished career spanning over 37 years he has served across vivid terrains and has undertaken many staff and instructional appointments. He has served in Siachen Glacier, along LC both in 15 & 16 Corps and along LAC in 3, 14 and 33 Corps. He commanded his battalion twice; in Uri Sect and at Taksing in Western RALP. He commanded an Infantry Brigade along Western Borders, Army HQ Res Mountain Division along Northern Borders. He has been an instructor in Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan and a Directing Staff at Defence Services Staff College. The general officers' staff appointments include a Grade 1 post in Military Operations Directorate, Brigadier General Staff appointments in HQ Corps and in HQ Central Command and Director General of Staff Duties at IHQ of MoD (Army), New Delhi.

On 5 April 2021, he took over as the General Officer Commanding I Corps from Lieutenant General C. P. Cariappa. After completing his term as I Corps Commander, on 11 May 2022 he assumed the appointment as the Director General of Military Operations.[7]

On 1 July 2023, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command succeeding Lieutenant General Nav K Khanduri when the latter superannuated from service on 30 June 2023. [8]

Personal life

He is married to Mrs Shuchi Katiyar, a homemaker, and the couple is blessed with two sons; Achintya Katiyar is working in an IT Company in Bangalore and Kushagra Katiyar is pursuing graduation.

Awards and decorations

Ati Vishisht Seva MedalSamanya Seva Medal
Special Service MedalSiachen Glacier MedalOperation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
14 June 1986[9]
Indian Army 14 June 1988[10]
Indian Army 14 June 1991[11]
Indian Army 14 June 1997[12]
Indian Army 16 December 2004[13]
Indian Army 1 May 2007[14]
Indian Army 14 December 2012 (acting)
1 April 2013 (substantive, with seniority from 11 June 2011)[15]
Indian Army 1 October 2018 (seniority from 1 February 2017)[16]
Indian Army 1 January 2021[17]

Notes and References

  1. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/PIB%20Delhi/FINAL%20AWARD%20RD%202021%20TO%20BE%20ANNOUNCED%20ON%2025%20JAN%202021.pdf
  2. News: Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar takes over as Western Command GOC-in-C . 19 July 2023 . . 2 July 2023.
  3. Web site: Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar to be Indian Army’s new DGMO . 2024-03-27 . India Today . en.
  4. Web site: Lt Gen Katiyar takes over as GOC 1 Corps . 5 April 2021 . The Tribune.
  5. Web site: 31 January 2022 . Lt. Gen. CP Mohanty, VCOAS & the colonel of the RAJPUT REGIMENT, handed over the Baton of "Colonel of the Regiment" to Lt. Gen. MK Katiyar, GOC 1 Corps at New Delhi on 31 Jan, 2022. . X (formerly twitter).
  6. https://indianarmy.nic.in/leaders/leaders-site-main/army-commanders
  7. Web site: Lt. General Manoj Kumar Katiyar assumed the appointment of the Director General of Military Operations . 2024-06-29 . www.spslandforces.com.
  8. News: 2023-07-02 . Lt Gen Katiyar new Western Army Command chief . 2024-06-29 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  9. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1586 . 29 October 1988 . The Gazette of India.
  10. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1551 . 14 October 1989 . The Gazette of India.
  11. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1441 . 22 August 1992 . The Gazette of India.
  12. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1476 . 27 September 1997 . The Gazette of India.
  13. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1355 . 6 August 2005 . The Gazette of India.
  14. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 1386 . 15 August 2009 . The Gazette of India.
  15. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 2137 . 15 August 2015 . The Gazette of India.
  16. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 2962 . 25 December 2021 . The Gazette of India.
  17. News: Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) . 273 . 4 February 2023 . The Gazette of India.