Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain Assumes Command Of Southern Command

03 Apr 2026 CW Team

Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain assumed command as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Southern Command on first April 2026, succeeding Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, who took over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The change of command was officiated at Headquarters Southern Command and was attended by senior military leadership.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he was commissioned into the MAHAR Regiment in June 1988 and brings nearly four decades of service. He has commanded an infantry battalion in semi-developed terrain and in the United Nations mission in South Sudan, an infantry brigade in a Strike Corps, a counter insurgency force and a pivot corps in Northern Command. He also serves as the Colonel of the MAHAR Regiment.

His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan, service as a military observer with the United Nations mission in Ethiopia, and multiple tenures in high-altitude areas as well as counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and in the North East. Prior to assuming command, he served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command where he contributed to capability development, force restructuring and overall operational preparedness. He has attended the Higher Command Course at the Army War College and the National Defence Course in Kenya.

He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Sena Medal in recognition of distinguished service. On assuming command he paid homage at the Southern Command War Memorial and received a guard of honour at Headquarters Southern Command. He indicated that the Command will prioritise operational readiness across deserts, the Rann and Creek Sector, the coastline, island territories and the hinterland, and he directed emphasis on strengthening jointness, indigenous capability development and technology absorption under the JAI framework to maintain high standards of preparedness, professionalism and combat readiness.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..