Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai is the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army, an important position he took up in October 2024. He has a distinguished military service of more than three decades, with notable operational, command, and staff assignments, particularly in sensitive regions such as Jammu and Kashmir.
Education and Early Career
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai is a graduate of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, from where he was commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment in December 1989. Throughout his 33-year career, he has served in some of the most reputed positions such as Colonel General Staff in a division that was deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, and Brigadier at the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters. He has commanded a battalion on the Western Sector, a brigade, and a division on the Northern Borders, highlighting his wide range of operational experience.
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Career Highlights of DGMO LT General Rajiv Ghai
Prior to his appointment as DGMO, Lt Gen Ghai was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC) of the Chinar Corps, the Indian Army unit tasked with operations in Kashmir. In his inaugural address, he laid a strong stress on hard work and determination in efforts towards peace and stability in the region and encouraged close coordination among the military, the civil administration, and society as a whole to counter terrorism and usher development.
As DGMO, Lt Gen Ghai is also responsible for planning and commanding military operations such as combat operations and counter-terror operations. He keeps the armed forces geared for any operation and coordinates intensively with other services and ministries of the government. He is also the chief military interlocutor with Pakistan's DGMO and has direct lines of communication to deal and defuse tensions at the border.
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Awards and Honours
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai has been awarded many top military honors for his exemplary service. Most importantly, he has been decorated with the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Sena Medal (SM) for his leadership and service in operational positions.
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Role in Operation Sindoor and Recent Military Engagements
Lt Gen Ghai was instrumental in the planning and conduct of Operation Sindoor, the Indian military attacks carried out on May 7, 2025, on terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In a press conference, he explained the operation's success in hitting terror bases like Muridke, a Lashkar-e-Taiba base, and claimed heavy casualties were suffered by the Pakistan Army. He further brought to notice Pakistan's ceasefire agreement violations in the form of cross-border shelling and strikes on civilian facilities such as Gurudwaras.
Operation Sindoor was conceptualised with a clear military aim to punish the perpetrators and planners of terror and to destroy their terror infrastructure. What I do not state here is the often stated determination of India and its intolerance to terror.
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) May 11, 2025
- Lieutenant General… pic.twitter.com/CAfmVDh4q9
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India-Pakistan Ceasefire Meeting on May 12, 2025
After severe hostilities, India and Pakistan consented to a ceasefire that took effect from 5:00 PM IST on May 10, 2025. The DGMOs of the two nations, including Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, had direct communication before and after the ceasefire declaration. Although there were initial breaches by Pakistan, including drone and cross-border firing attacks, Lt Gen Ghai reported that the Indian Army Chief had directed commanders to take action firmly against any further violations.
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A meeting between India and Pakistan at the level of DGMO is on May 12, 2025, to address modalities for peaceful coexistence and complying with the ceasefire arrangement. The purpose of this meeting is to bring stability to the border zone and prevent further incidents. Lt Gen Ghai has a key role in these negotiations, as he speaks for the military interests and operational position of India in these diplomatic-military negotiations.
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— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2025
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Lt General Rajiv Ghai is an well-qualified and awarded Indian Army officer who holds the position of DGMO. His service is an evidence of vast operational experience, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, and has played a key role in recent military operations as well as in diplomatic initiatives to contain India-Pakistan tensions. His leadership over Operation Sindoor and future ceasefire negotiations attests to his key position in India's military strategy and border security management.
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