Lieutenant General Amit Kabthiyal assumes Command of Vajra Corps
Jalandhar, April 1, 2026: Lieutenant General Amit Kabthiyal, YSM, SM**, assumed command of the prestigious Vajra Corps - ‘Defenders of Punjab’ - from Lieutenant General Ajay Chandpuria, AVSM, VSM, on Wednesday.
On assuming command, the Corps Commander laid a wreath at Vajra Shaurya Sthal to pay homage to the Bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. He exhorted all ranks to maintain highest standards of operational readiness, adapt swiftly to evolving challenges, uphold values and ethos of the Indian Army and contribute proactively towards organizational excellence and Nation Building.
An alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lieutenant General Amit Kabthiyal is a second-generation officer of GARHWAL RIFLES with over three decades of distinguished service. He has served extensively across diverse operational environments, Counter Insurgency operations, deployments along the Northern Boarders and Line of Control, and participated in Operations RAKSHAK, RHINO, VIJAY and PARAKRAM. His command experience includes Command of a Scouts Battalion which is a unit specialized in mountain warfare, raised a new Infantry battalion and commanded the same along the Northern borders, an Assam Rifles Sector in challenging Counter Insurgency environment in Manipur and a Mountain Division in the strategically important East Sikkim area. He has also held key instructional and staff appointments, including a tenure with the Indian Army Training Team in Lao PDR, contributing to India’s global military diplomacy.
Lieutenant General Amit Kabthiyal has been awarded the Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal (Gallantry) and Bar to Sena Medal for distinguished service, in addition to several other honours during his illustrious career. Prior to assuming command of Vajra Corps, he served as Chief of Staff, Brahmastra Corps.
A graduate from Delhi University the General Officer has a distinguished academic record and is Masters in Strategic Studies from Madras University, Master of Management Studies from Osmania University and M Phil from Madras University.
Lieutenant General Amit Kabthiyal succeeds Lieutenant General Ajay Chandpuria, who commanded Vajra Corps since July 2024. Under his dynamic leadership, the Corps witnessed significant advancements in operational preparedness, organizational restructuring and integration of emerging technologies. Key initiatives include the raising and operationalization of Bhairav Battalion and Ashni Platoons, reorganization of surveillance and communication elements, and enhanced jointness with sister services and civil administration; strengthening a ‘Whole of Nation’ approach.
During his tenure, Lieutenant General Ajay Chandpuria steered the Corps with vision and resolve through Operation SINDOOR and Operation RAHAT, ensuring swift, coordinated and effective responses across the operational spectrum. His leadership was marked by enhanced operational readiness, seamless jointness and strong civil-military outreach, reinforcing the Corps’ capability to respond decisively in both conflict and contingency scenarios.
He further enhanced training standards, integrated technology in tactics and operations and advanced the welfare of Soldiers, Veterans and their families. Lieutenant General Ajay Chandpuria now proceeds to assume the appointment of Commandant, Army War College, Mhow, where he will continue to shape the future military leadership.