Committee of Cabinet on May 26 granted one month extension in tenure to Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Manoj Pande beyond his retirement date, upto June 30, 2024. He was due to retire on May 31 on turning 62 years of age. Gen Pande was appointed as the COAS on April 30, 2022. He was commissioned into the Army in December 1982 in the Corps of Engineers. The current Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi is the next in line for the top post based on the principle of seniority.