New Delhi: Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar on July 1 took charge as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Western Command. General Katiyar paid his respects at Veer Smriti by laying a wreath upon assuming the charge.

Lt General Katiyar was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment in June 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is a graduate of the Defence Service Staff College, National Defence College as well as a distinguished graduate of the National War College, USA.

In a career spanning over 37 years, General Manoj Kumar Katiyar has served across a wide spectrum of operational areas in Siachen Glacier, along the Line of Control, both in 15 and 16 Corps, and along the Line of Actual Control in 3, 14 and 33 Corps.

The General Officer has also served as an instructor in the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan and the Defence Services Staff College Wellington. His staff appointments include a tenure in Military Operations Directorate and Brigadier General Staff in Headquarters 3 Corps, Headquarters Central Command and Director General of Staff Duties in Army Headquarters.

He has the distinction of commanding an infantry brigade along the Western Borders, Army Headquarters Reserve Mountain Division along the Northern Borders and the Mountain Strike Corps responsible for offensive operations. He commanded his battalion twice in Uri sect and at Taksing in Western RALP.

Prior to taking over as GOC-in-C of Western Command, the General was the director general of military operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army. General Katiyar was conferred with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service in 2021.