{{Short description|Lieutenant General in Indian Army}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Lieutenant General | name = Sandeep Jain | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=90%|AVSM|SM}} | image = File:Lt General Sandeep Jain.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = | office = General Officer Commanding-in-Chief<br>Southern Command | term_start = 1 April 2026 | term_end = | 1blankname = Chief of Army Staff | 1namedata = Upendra Dwivedi | predecessor = Dhiraj Seth | successor = | allegiance = {{IND}} | branch = {{army|India}} | service_years = 11 June 1988 – Present | rank = 20px Lieutenant General | unit = 21px 13 Mahar Regiment | military_blank1 = Service number | military_data1 = IC-47661L<ref>{{cite web|title=Rank & Name|URL=https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/jan/doc202212610101.pdf}}</ref> | commands = {{plainlist| * 22px Southern Command * 18px Indian Military Academy * 21px XVI Corps }} | battles = | battles_label = | military_blank2 = Awards | military_data2 = {{plainlist| * 20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal * 20px Sena Medal }} | spouse = | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | website = | other_name = | memorials = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | module = }} Lieutenant General '''Sandeep Jain''', AVSM, SM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Lt General Sandeep Jain Assumes Command of Southern Command |url=https://www.spslandforces.com/appointments/?id=20&h=Lt-General-Sandeep-Jain-Assumes-Command-of-Southern-Command |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=www.spslandforces.com}}</ref> He was previously serving as Chief of Staff of the Southern Command.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-03 |title=Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain Takes Over as Chief of Staff at Southern Command - SSBCrack News |url=https://news.ssbcrack.com/lieutenant-general-sandeep-jain-takes-over-as-chief-of-staff-at-southern-command/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> prior to that he was the Commandant, Indian Military Academy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lt Gen Sandeep Jain takes over as Commandant of Indian Military Academy |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/lt-gen-sandeep-jain-takes-over-as-commandant-of-indian-military-academy-586342/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref> He earlier served as General Officer Commanding XVI Corps.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Lt Gen Sandeep Jain takes over as Corps Commander White Knight Corps |url=https://statetimes.in/amp/lt-gen-sandeep-jain-takes-over-as-corps-commander-white-knight-corps/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Statetimes |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lt Gen Sandeep Jain takes over as GOC 16 Corps |url=https://thekashmirhorizon.com/2022/12/24/lt-gen-sandeep-jain-takes-over-as-goc-16-corps/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=The Kashmir Horizon |language=en-US}}</ref> He is also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Mahar Regiment since 1 August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Lt Gen C Bansi Ponnappa Bids Farewell to Mahar Regimental Centre |url=https://www.ssbcrack.com/2024/07/lt-gen-c-bansi-ponnappa-bids-farewell-to-mahar-regimental-centre.html |access-date=2026-03-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life and education == He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Garhwal |date=2024-02-03 |title=Lt General Sandeep Jain takes over as 52nd IMA Commandant {{!}} Garhwal Post |url=https://garhwalpost.in/lt-general-sandeep-jain-takes-over-as-52nd-ima-commandant/ |access-date=2026-03-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Military Career == The general officer was commissioned into 13th Battalion of the Mahar Regiment on 11 June 1988 from the Indian Military Academy.<ref name=":1" /> In a career spanning over three decades, he has undertaken numerous command and staff appointments. He was a Sector Commander at United Nations Mission in Sudan, an Infantry Brigade in Strike Corps and was General Officer Commanding of a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir. He has also served with the Military Operations Directorate, Military Secretary’s Branch and as a Military observer in Ethiopia.
After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, he assumed the appointment of Director General (Capability Development) at the Army Headquarters, New Delhi. On 24 December 2022, he took over as the General Officer Commanding XVI Corps.<ref name=":2" /> A year later on 1 February 2024, he took over as the Commandant of the Indian Military Academy. He subsequently assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, Southern Command in June 2025.<ref name=":0" />
On 1 April 2026, Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command succeeding Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth upon his elevation as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.<ref name=":3" />
== Awards and decorations == During his career, the general officer has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=President approves Gallantry awards to 93 Armed Forces personnel, including 11 posthumous & 305 defence decorations on the eve of Republic Day 2025 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096200 |access-date=25 January 2025 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> and the Sena Medal in 2022.<ref>{{cite press release |title=President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |date=2022-01-25 |publisher=PIB |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1792624}}</ref> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |105x105px |105x105px | |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |frameless|105x105px |frameless|105x105px |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |Sena 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 |UNMEE |UNMIS |}
== Dates of rank == {| class="wikitable" style="background:white" !Insignia !Rank !Component !Date of rank |- | align="center" |89x89px |Second Lieutenant |Indian Army |11 June 1988<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1989/O-0593-1989-0020-25631.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=egazette.gov.in |page=17}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Lieutenant |Indian Army |11 June 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0407-1993-0013-16503.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India |page=50}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Captain |Indian Army |11 June 1993<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0410-1993-0042-16533.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=egazette.gov.in}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Major |Indian Army |11 June 1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1999/W_40_2013_172.pdf |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=egazette.gov.in |page=30}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Lieutenant Colonel |Indian Army |16 December 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2005/W_35_2012_129.pdf |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=egazette.gov.in}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Colonel |Indian Army |11 June 2008<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2010/W_43_2010_030.pdf |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=egazette.gov.in}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Brigadier |Indian Army |13 June 2014 (acting) 29 October 2015 (substantive, with seniority from 14 September 2012)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2017/179300.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=egazette.gov.in}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Major General |Indian Army |6 February 2020 (seniority from 20 November 2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=The Gazette of India: Part I-Section 4 (Military Secretary's Branch) |page=2965 |date=25 December 2021|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2021/232121.pdf |publisher=Department of Publications, Government of India}}</ref> |- | align="center" |89x89px |Lieutenant General |Indian Army |2022 |}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jain, Sandeep}}
Category:Indian military personnel
Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)