Lt general Pradeep Khanna takes over as Goc-in-C Soutehrn Command : Jan 2, 2009

1. Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna, VSM, ADC was born on 07 Feb 1951 at Modinagar (UP). He did his schooling from St Luke's and Govt College, Solan.

2. An alumni of National Defence Academy (NDA), Gen Pradeep Khanna was commissioned from Indian Military Academy on 20 Dec 1970 into 20 LANCERS (Armoured Corps). The Gen Offr has seen operational service at Western Frontier during 1971 war with Pakistan, while with his regiment. The Gen Offr has served as Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, Staff Officer to Commandant Defence Services Staff College and Military Advisor to General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command. Later, he also had the privilege of commanding 20 LANCERS at Ambala in the rank of Colonel.

3. A consistent front runner the officer was one of the first few in his batch to do the Staff College, Senior Command and Higher Command. Gen Offr was selected to be Col Gen Staff of an Armoured Division and later Director Complaint Advisory Board at Chief of Army Staff Secretariat where he was awarded Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Card. Later, he took over the command of an Armd Bde and was nominated to attend the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies Course (UK). He was posted as Director Faculty of Studies at Army War College after the RCDS course.

4. The Gen Offr commanded an Armoured Division with distinction. During this assignment, he contributed immensely towards improving the habitat for Offr accn and façade of Army HQ. He has been decorated with Vishisht Seva Medal in recognition of his services in the planning and execution of modernization of Sena Bhawan as Additional Director General Adm and Coord.

5. On promotion, the General Officer assumed command of the elite 21 Corps and very successfully conducted the World Military Games at Secunderabad and Corps Level Exercise, 'DAKSHIN SHAKTI' during Mar 2008.

6. The Gen Offr was appointed Chief of Staff, HQ Northern Command in 2008, where he was instrumental in giving a distinctly discernable and widely appreciated thrust towards a refined organizational jointmanship in training, planning and execution of vision of a modern and progressive future Army.

8. The Gen Offr has been appointed as Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India on 09 Mar 2008. He is also the Coloel Commandant of five Armoured Regts.

9. The Gen Offr is widely considered to be a thinking soldier who is a thorough professional. He took over as GOC-in-C Southern Command wef 01 Jan 2009.