Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant General
Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar
Honorific Suffix:PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM**, VSM
Serviceyears:1979 – 2019
Rank: Lieutenant General
Servicenumber:IC-35965W
Unit:15 Punjab Regiment
Commands: XVI Corps
Battles:Operation Vijay
Awards: Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

Lieutenant General Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM**, VSM is a former officer of the Indian Army who served as the Master General Ordnance (MGO). He assumed office on 9 August 2017 after Lieutenant General Ravi Thodge retired.[1] [2] He was part of one of the strike corp which was responsible for carrying out three strikes inside POK in Surgical Strikes held in 2016 by the Indian Army to clean out all the Pakistani Terrorists Camps.[3] As surgical strikes were carried out very secretly to maintain surprise, so very few people knew of them, one of those involved was Lt. Gen. Nimbhorkar.

Early life and education

Nimbhorkar hails from a farming family in Vidarbha, Maharashtra. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Satara; National Defence Academy, Pune and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.He has also attended the military course at National Defence University, Washington DC and the National Defence College, Dhaka.

Career

Nimbhorkar was commissioned into 15 Punjab Regiment in 1979.He has served in an operational role in several regions including Leh, Kargil, Kashmir Valley, Poonch, Rajauri, Rajasthan and Northeast India. He has held various command positions including 15 Punjab in Jammu and Kashmir; an infantry brigade Naoshera; Rashtriya Rifles; General Officer Commanding (GOC), Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa; GOC of XVI Corps (Nagrota) in 2015 before taking over as MGO at Army HQ. He has served as a UN military observer in Angola. He was also appointed the Colonel of the Punjab Regiment on 1 March 2015.[4]

Nimbhorkar was critically injured during Operation Vijay on Line of Control in Rajouri sector, commanding 15 Punjab. He also captured an enemy post in Dras sector as a captain and he killed 22 terrorists in Baramulla district of Kashmir as a Major.

During his career, he has been awarded COAS Commendation Card; C-in-C SFC Commendation Card; Sena Medal (gallantry) commanding a company in Dras sector; Sena Medal (distinguished service) commanding a brigade in Naoshera; Vishisht Seva Medal in Akhnoor sector; Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal in Nagrota; Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in south Kashmir and Param Vishisht Seva Medal as Master General of the Ordnance.[5]

Lt. Gen. R.R. Nimbhorkar (Retd.) has been awarded Ph D. from Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut in July 2022.

Honours and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva MedalUttam Yudh Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva MedalSena MedalVishisht Seva MedalWound Medal
Special Service MedalOperation Vijay Star MedalOperation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude Service MedalVidesh Seva Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service MedalUNAVEM

Notes and References

  1. News: Leh GOC to be new DGMI, Nimbhorkar as MGO. 2016-08-10. Jammu Kashmir Latest News Tourism Breaking News J&K. 2018-02-05. en-US.
  2. News: Army HQs issues posting orders for new Corps Commanders in J&K. 2016-09-12. The Indian Express. 2018-02-05. en-US.
  3. Web site: 2019-09-28. Goal of surgical strikes was deterrence by punishment: Lt Gen (retd) Nimbhorkar. 2021-11-06. The Indian Express. en.
  4. News: Lt Gen Nimbhorkar takes over as General Officer Commanding of 16 Corps. News18. 2018-02-05.
  5. Web site: Press Information Bureau. www.pib.nic.in. en. 2018-02-05.