Question

Who is the current Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) in India as of February 2026?

• A. General Upendra Dwivedi
• B. General Manoj Pande
• C. General S.H.F.J. Manekshaw
• D. General Bipin Rawat

Hint:

Always check the "as of" date in the question. Historical figures like Manekshaw (first Field Marshal) or Bipin Rawat (first CDS) are common distractor options in defense exams.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Track the COAS succession timeline.
General Manoj Pande served as the 29th Chief of Army Staff of India and retired in June 2024. His successor was appointed immediately upon his retirement.
Step 2: Identify the current COAS as of February 2026.
General Upendra Dwivedi was appointed as the 30th COAS upon General Pande's retirement in June 2024 and continued to serve in that role as of February 2026.
Step 3: Eliminate the distractors.
General Manoj Pande had already retired. General Sam Manekshaw served decades earlier as the first Field Marshal. General Bipin Rawat served as CDS and passed away in a helicopter crash in 2021.
\[ \boxed{\text{General Upendra Dwivedi}} \]