# Ram Chander Tiwari

Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM is a serving general officer in the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command. He previously served as the General officer Commanding Uttar Bharat Area and General Officer Commanding III Corps. He earlier held the appointment of Chief of Staff of the South Western Command. The general officer is also the Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment & Naga Regiment and the KUMAON SCOUTS.

## Early life and education

He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Higher Defence Management Course and National Defence College, New Delhi. He is also a graduate of Swiss Army Chemical Warfare School and US Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, USA.

## Military career

He was commissioned into the 4th battalion of the Kumaon Regiment on 13 June 1987 from the Indian Military Academy. In his 36 years of illustrious service, he has tenanted various Command and Staff appointments with a wide spectrum of operational, field and highly active Counter Insurgency profile. The General Officer has had the privilege of tenanting prestigious appointments of Brigade Major of a mountain brigade along Northern Borders, three tenures in Military Operations Directorate, Col General Staff of a Mountain Division in High Altitude in J&K, DDG KRA Cell in COAS Sectt and Dy MS in Military Secretary's Branch. He also has the unique distinction of serving twice with the United Nations, first as a Military Observer and later as Deputy Chief of Staff at Force HQ in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The general Officer has served a Rashtriya Rifles battalion as 2IC, commanded his Battalion in active Counter Insurgency area of Assam (OP RHINO), commanded a Mountain Brigade in High Altitude Area of North Sikkim, wherein his distinguished professionalism was rewarded with Sena Medal. He has also commanded 17th Infantry Division (The Black cat division) along the LAC, wherein he was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the South Western Command. In March 2022, he took over as the General Officer Commanding of Spear Corps (III) in the Eastern Theatre. The general Officer was awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for his distinguished service while commanding the III Corps in Eastern Theatre. A year later in April 2023, the general officer took over the command of Uttar Bharat Area.
On 1 January 2024, he took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command succeeding Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita who superannuated on 31 December 2023.

## Awards and decorations

The General officer has been awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2023, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Sena Medal.
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Uttam Yudh Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Sena Medal |
| Samanya Seva Medal | Special Service Medal | Operation Parakram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal |
| High Altitude Medal | Videsh Seva Medal | 75th Independence Anniversary Medal | 50th Independence Anniversary Medal |
| 30 Years Long Service Medal | 20 Years Long Service Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal | MONUSCO |

## Dates of rank

| Rank | Component | Date of rank |
| Second Lieutenant | Indian Army | 13 June 1987 |
| Lieutenant | Indian Army | 13 June 1989 |
| Captain | Indian Army | 13 June 1992 |
| Major | Indian Army | 13 June 1998 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 16 December 2004 |
| Colonel | Indian Army | 1 January 2008 |
| Brigadier | Indian Army | 7 June 2013 (acting) 1 April 2014 (substantive, with seniority from 8 January 2012) |
| Major General | Indian Army | 18 February 2019 (seniority from 1 January 2018) |
| Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 2021 |