Srinagar: Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Sunday began the new year by paying a visit to troops posted along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. "On the occasion of New Year 2023, General Manoj Pande visited troops deployed at various locations in high altitude area along the Line of Control in Kupwara Sector," an Army spokesperson said in a tweet. He said the chief of armed staff interacted with the troops and extended New Year wishes to all ranks and their families. During this, he enquired about the condition of the soldiers and encouraged them.
At the same time, Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha took charge of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force on January 1, 2023. Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 1985 as a fighter pilot. Sinha is also an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He is an experienced fighter pilot and has held various positions as an 'A' category Accredited Flying Instructor, Fighter Striker Leader, Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner. Air Marshal Sinha has over 4,500 hours of flying experience.
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Sinha has held several important command and staff appointments during his service span of over 37 years. These include appointments such as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron and Chief Flying Instructor (Flying) at Flying Station. In addition, he served as the Training Coordination Officer at the Royal Air Force Valley in the UK where he flew Hawk aircraft. According to the Defence Ministry, Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha has been awarded the 'Vishisht Seva Medal and 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal'. Mohan Sinha succeeds Air Marshal S Prabhakaran, who retired on December 31, 2022 after rendering over 39 years of distinguished service to the Indian Air Force.
