Podali Shankar Rajeshwar

Lieutenant General Podali Shankar Rajeshwar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a former General officer in the Indian Army. He last served as the 14th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, from December 2019 to May 2020. He took office on 1 December 2019 when Vice Admiral Bimal Verma retired.[2][3][4] He superannuated on 31 May 2020, handing over command to Lieutenant General Manoj Pande. Earlier, he had served as the 12th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, from November 2018 to November 2019.


P S Rajeshwar

Born (1960-05-27) 27 May 1960 (age 63)
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of serviceDecember 1980 - May 2020
Rank Lieutenant General
Service numberIC-39380A[1]
UnitRegiment of Artillery
Commands heldCommander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff
XII Corps
Battles/warsOperation Parakram
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

Early life and education

Rajeshwar is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and National Defence College, Delhi. He also holds a master's degree in national security administration from National Defense College, Philippines.[5]

Career

Rajeshwar was commissioned into the Indian army's Regiment of Artillery in December 1980. He has various operational experiences in high altitude areas, counter-insurgency areas in the North East, and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. He has held commands of an artillery regiment during Operation Parakram, an infantry brigade at line of control, General-Officer-Commanding XII Corps, Director General of Perspective Planning at the Integrated Headquarters and GOC of Romeo Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also served in various United Nations Peacekeeping operations to Rwanda and Mozambique.[5][6][7][8]

Rajeshwar served as 12th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) of the Indian Armed Forces. He assumed the office on 1 November 2018 when Lieutenant General Satish Dua retired, and served in the same capacity till 30 November 2019 when Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar took over.[5][9][10]

Honours and decorations

During 38 years of his career, he has been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January (2020), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2018 and Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2016 for his service.[11][1]

Param Vishisht Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva MedalSamanya Seva MedalSpecial Service Medal
Siachen Glacier MedalOperation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram MedalSainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Service MedalVidesh Seva Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal30 Years Long Service Medal
20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service MedalONUMOZUNAMIR

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Second LieutenantIndian Army13 December 1980[12]
LieutenantIndian Army13 December 1982
CaptainIndian Army13 December 1985[13]
MajorIndian Army13 December 1991[14]
Lieutenant-ColonelIndian Army31 December 2002[15]
ColonelIndian Army1 February 2005[16]
BrigadierIndian Army12 December 2008 (acting)[17]
1 February 2009 (substantive; seniority from 31 January 2008)[17]
Major GeneralIndian Army31 January 2013 (seniority from 11 April 2011)[18]
Lieutenant-GeneralIndian Army1 April 2016 (substantive)[19]

References

External links

Media related to P. S. Rajeshwar at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Bimal Verma
Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command
1 December 2019 – 31 May 2020
Succeeded by
Lieutenant General Manoj Pande
Preceded by
Lt Gen Satish Dua
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff
1 November 2018 – 30 November 2019
Succeeded by
Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar
Preceded by
V P Singh
General Officer Commanding XII Corps Succeeded by
R K Jagga