Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command. He was previously serving as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command. He earlier served as the Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency, prior to that he was General Officer Commanding IV Corps. He is also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Garhwal Rifles since 28 June 2025.
Early life and education The general officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is also an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, National Defence College, New Delhi. He also went to the Centre for National Defence Studies, Madrid and the National Defense University, United States. He also holds a Ph.D. on China’s Defence modernization. The General is a Scholar Warrior and has authored various research papers and articles on leadership and strategic issues.
Military career He was commissioned into the 10th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on 19 December 1987 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. In a career spanning over 37 years, the general officer has held diverse operational, instructional, and staff appointments across various terrains and theatres. He has served with the Indian Military Training Team and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. As Colonel, he commanded the same battalion he was commissioned into. He has been an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, and with the Higher Command Wing at Army War College, Mhow. His staff appointments include those of a brigade major of an independent armoured brigade, Deputy Director General Staff Duties, Brigadier Military Intelligence (East), Provost Marshal. He has also commanded an infantry brigade and division in the Eastern Sector.
After getting promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, he was appointed as the Director General of Staff Duties at the IHQ of MoD (Army) in New Delhi. After a short stint as DG SD, on 21 March 2022, he took over as the General Officer Commanding IV Corps in the Eastern theatre. A year later on 31 March 2023, he assumed the appointment of Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency (DG DIA).
On 1 June 2025, Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana took over as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), making history as the first Chief of Defence Intelligence to be elevated to the rank of Commander-in-Chief, reflecting the importance of defence intelligence and jointmanship. The general officer also assumed the mantle of the Colonel of the Regiment of the Garhwal Rifles on 28 June 2025 succeeding Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani. After assuming mantle of the 23rd Colonel of the Regiment, he reaffirmed his commitment to furthering the ethos, discipline, and martial legacy of the Veer Garhwali warriors who have always stood steadfast in service of the nation.
Awards and decorations The General officer has been awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021, the Yudh Seva Medal in 2015 and the Sena Medal in 1993. He was also awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for gallantry in Kashmir.
Param Vishisht Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva MedalYudh Seva MedalSena MedalSpecial Service MedalOperation Parakram MedalSainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Independence Anniversary Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service MedalUNIFIL
Dates of rank InsigniaRankComponentDate of rankSecond LieutenantIndian Army19 December 1987LieutenantIndian Army19 December 1989CaptainIndian Army19 December 1992MajorIndian Army19 December 1998Lieutenant ColonelIndian Army16 December 2004ColonelIndian Army1 January 2008BrigadierIndian Army25 October 2013 (acting) 1 November 2014 (substantive, with seniority from 27 January 2012)Major GeneralIndian Army1 September 2019 (seniority from 1 January 2018)Lieutenant GeneralIndian Army30 September 2021
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