Pune: Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, relinquished the command of Southern Command on 30 June 2024 as he superannuated after 40 years of glorious service.
In a solemn ceremony on his departure, the Army Commander paid homage to the Braveheart’s by laying a wreath at the Command War Memorial, Pune.
Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh had assumed the command of this elite formation as its 50th Army Commander on 01 November 2022. He was commissioned in December 1984 into the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles.
An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla & Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, the General officer had a comprehensive and well-rounded operational experience through varied command and staff appointments tenanted during his distinguished military career.
He commanded a battalion initially as part of Strike Corps and subsequently in Jammu & Kashmir on the Line of Control, a Brigade in Rann Sector, a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir and the strategically important Trishakti Corps in the Eastern Sector.
During his 20 months as an Army commander, he had consistently demonstrated operational excellence through a combination of strategic foresight, decisive leadership and impetus on Jointmanship and integration.
For ensuring the operational preparedness and readiness of command, he successfully executed significant joint military exercises involving training with foreign armies like Africa, France, Srilanka and UAE and also with other services like Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Paramilitary organisations.
Being the Army Commander of the largest command of the Indian Army which also has three Naval Commands and four Air Force Commands in its Area of Responsibility, his involvement was also significant in ensuring synergy and interoperability with all three services. Major exercise to include Tri Shakti Prahar and Bharat Shakti were conducted in the desert sectors.
Under his leadership, the Southern Command witnessed significant investments in infrastructure development, including hospitals, medical facilities and training centers.
Under his dynamic thought process, Southern Command has undertaken the pioneering initiative of achieving ‘Net Zero Southern Command’ status.