Rajesh Pushkar

Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, AVSM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He is currently serving as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command. He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding II Corps and as the Director General of Territorial Army. He is also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Armoured Corps.

Early life and education Pushkar is one of three children born to Lieutenant Colonel Pushkar Nath Dass and Jaya Dass. His elder sister Sunanda Pushkar was a businesswoman and was married to Shashi Tharoor.

Pushkar 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, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He holds a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies, a Masters in Management Studies and a Master of Philosophy in Defence and International Relations. He also served as the Commandant of Indian Military Training Team, Bhutan in Bhutan and as the Additional Director General, Armoured Corps at Army headquarters, New Delhi. On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, he assumed the appointment of Director General of Territorial Army.

After a short stint as DGTA, on 1 July 2024, Pushkar took over as the General Officer Commanding, II Corps succeeding Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh. He was in command of II Corps during Operation Sindoor. On 1 July 2026, Lieutenant General Pushkar took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command succeeding Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain upon his elevation as the Vice Chief of Army Staff. and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016. He has also received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation and three Army Commander Commendations.

Dates of rank