Southern Command (India)

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Southern Command

| image = File:Southern Command (India).png

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Insignia of the Southern Command

| country = {{flag|India}}

| branch = {{army|India}}

| type = Command

| dates = 1908–present

| specialization =

| command_structure =

| size =

| current_commander = Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, {{Post-nominals|country=IND|size=80%|AVSM}}

| garrison = Pune

| anniversaries = 1 April (Raising Day)

| battles =

| notable_commanders = General Rajendrasinhji Jadeja
General S M Shrinagesh
General K S Thimayya
General Pran Nath Thapar
General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri
General Gopal Gurunath Bewoor
General Om Prakash Malhotra
General Bipin Chandra Joshi
General Ved Prakash Malik
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan
General Nirmal Chander Vij
General Bipin Rawat

| identification_symbol = 150px

| identification_symbol_label = Flag

}}

Southern Command is a formation of the Indian Army, active since 1895. It has seen action during the integration of several Princely States into modern India, during the 1961 Indian liberation of Goa, and during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani Wars. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is the present Southern Army Commander.

History

=Early history=

The Presidency armies were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895 when the three Presidency armies became the Indian Army.{{cite web|title=Northern Command|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==|access-date=4 January 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212442/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==|archive-date=3 March 2016}} The Indian Army was divided into four Commands (Bengal Command, Bombay Command, Madras Command and Punjab Command) each under a lieutenant general.

In 1908, the four commands were merged into two Armies (Northern Army and Southern Army): this system persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to four commands again (Eastern Command, Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command). In 1914, the Southern Army consisted of the 4th (Quetta) Division, the 5th (Mhow) Division, the 6th (Poona) Division, the 9th (Secunderabad) Division, and the Aden Brigade.{{cite web|url=http://orbat.com/site/history/historical/india/army1914.html |title=THE INDIAN ARMY 1914 |publisher=Orbat.com |date=2001-03-25 |access-date=2013-06-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909172657/http://orbat.com/site/history/historical/india/army1914.html |archive-date=9 September 2009 }}

=Second World War=

During the Second World War, Southern Command was reformed as Southern Army (equivalent to a corps) in April 1942. The formation reverted to the title Southern Command in November 1945.{{cite web|title=Southern Army|access-date=11 October 2009|publisher=OOB.com|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=7163&Tab=Sup|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070706171348/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=7163&Tab=Sup|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 July 2007}}

Component divisions included:{{cite web|title=Southern Army Subordinates|access-date=11 October 2009|publisher=OOB.com|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=7163&Tab=Sub|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104100946/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=7163&Tab=Sub|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2013}}

19th Indian Infantry Division, April 1942 to July 1944
2nd British Infantry Division, June 1942 to April 1943, and then June 1945 to August 1945
70th British Infantry Division, July 1943 to October 1943
81st (West Africa) Division, March 1945 to August 1945
36th Infantry Division (British Army), June 1945 to August 1945

Component brigades included:

7th Armoured Brigade, June 1942 to September 1942
British 6th Infantry Brigade, November 1942 to December 1942
150th Indian Infantry Brigade March 1944 to August 1945
26th Indian Infantry Brigade July 1944 to December 1944

=Post war=

In August 1947, Southern Command had the Deccan, Madras and Bombay Areas (with HQs at Kamptee, Madras and Bombay).

In 1947–48, Southern Command was largely responsible in getting Junagadh and Hyderabad to sign the instrument of accession to India. 1st Armoured Division did the actual incursion into Hyderabad. In 1961, the Indian annexation of Goa was conducted by 17th Infantry Division and 50th Parachute Brigade, under the operational control of Southern Command.{{Cite web |last=Pillarisetti |first=Jagan |title=The Liberation of Goa: 1961 |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1960s/Goa01.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031005110857/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1960s/Goa01.html |archive-date=5 October 2003 |access-date=12 June 2014 |website=Bharat Rakshak |df=dmy}}

In 1965–66, two further divisions were raised within the command. After fighting broke out in the Rann of Kutch in April 1965, a hastily constituted force, named Kilo Force under Maj. Gen P. O. Dunn was formed to contain this attack. Kilo Force was later re-designated as 11 Infantry Division. In September 1965, the operational responsibility for the Barmer sector was given to Southern Command and entrusted to 11 Infantry Division. Delhi and Rajasthan Area, with its Advance Headquarters at Jodhpur, fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 under Western Command. On 3 November 1966, this formation was re-designated 12th Infantry Division, under Major General J.F.R. Jacob, and also placed under Southern Command.Renaldi and Rikhye 2011, p. 43

Structure

The command headquarters is located in Pune, Maharashtra.{{cite web|title=Operational Commands of The Indian Army|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/commands.htm|access-date=4 January 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228041815/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/commands.htm|archive-date=28 February 2010}} It consists of two corps and two military areas. The two areas are:- Maharashtra Goa and Gujarat Area (MG&G Area) and the Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala Area (ATNK&K Area)Renaldi and Rikhye, 2011, p. 18 In 2005, the changes to its jurisdiction area were made when a new South Western Command was established.{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/southcom.htm |title=Southern Command |publisher=GlobalSecurity |access-date=2016-01-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124083001/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/southcom.htm |archive-date=24 January 2016}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="6" \|Structure of Southern Command
colspan="2" \|Corps !Corps HQ !GOC of Corps (Corps Commander) !Assigned Units !Unit HQ
rowspan="5" \|File:XII Corps.png \| rowspan="5" \|XII Corps (Konark Corps) \| rowspan="5" \|Jodhpur, Rajasthan \| rowspan="5" \|Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra \|11 Infantry Division \|Ahmedabad, Gujarat
12 RAPID Division \|Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
75 (Independent) Infantry Brigade \|Bhuj, Gujarat
4 (Independent) Armoured Brigade \|Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
340 (Independent) Mechanized Brigade \|Ajmer, Rajasthan
\| colspan="5" \|
rowspan="5" \|File:XXI Corps.png \| rowspan="5" \|XXI Corps (Sudarshan Chakra Corps) \| rowspan="5" \|Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh \| rowspan="5" \|Lt Gen Prit Pal Singh{{Cite web\|url=https://www.punekarnews.in/lieutenant-general-prit-pal-singh-assumes-command-of-sudarshan-chakra-corps/\|title=Lieutenant General Prit Pal Singh Assumes Command of Sudarshan Chakra Corps\|first=Rahul\|last=Dolare\|date=1 January 2024}} \|54 Infantry Division \|Secunderabad, Telangana
36 RAPID Division \|Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
31 Armoured Division \|Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
41 Artillery Division \|Pune, Maharashtra
475 Engineering Brigade \|Nasirabad, Rajasthan
\| colspan="5" \|
colspan="4" rowspan="3" \| \|Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa Area \|Mumbai, Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala Area \|Chennai, Tamil Nadu
617 (Independent) Air Defence Brigade \|Pune, Maharashtra

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="6" |Structure of Southern Command

colspan="2" |Corps

!Corps HQ

!GOC of Corps

(Corps Commander)

!Assigned Units

!Unit HQ

rowspan="5" |File:XII Corps.png

| rowspan="5" |XII Corps

(Konark Corps)

| rowspan="5" |Jodhpur, Rajasthan

| rowspan="5" |Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra

|11 Infantry Division

|Ahmedabad, Gujarat

12 RAPID Division

|Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

75 (Independent) Infantry Brigade

|Bhuj, Gujarat

4 (Independent) Armoured Brigade

|Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

340 (Independent) Mechanized Brigade

|Ajmer, Rajasthan

| colspan="5" |

rowspan="5" |File:XXI Corps.png

| rowspan="5" |XXI Corps

(Sudarshan Chakra Corps)

| rowspan="5" |Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

| rowspan="5" |Lt Gen Prit Pal Singh{{Cite web|url=https://www.punekarnews.in/lieutenant-general-prit-pal-singh-assumes-command-of-sudarshan-chakra-corps/|title=Lieutenant General Prit Pal Singh Assumes Command of Sudarshan Chakra Corps|first=Rahul|last=Dolare|date=1 January 2024}}

|54 Infantry Division

|Secunderabad, Telangana

36 RAPID Division

|Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

31 Armoured Division

|Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

41 Artillery Division

|Pune, Maharashtra

475 Engineering Brigade

|Nasirabad, Rajasthan

| colspan="5" |

colspan="4" rowspan="3" |

|Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa Area

|Mumbai, Maharashtra

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,

Karnataka, and Kerala Area

|Chennai, Tamil Nadu

617 (Independent) Air Defence Brigade

|Pune, Maharashtra

Precursors (1907–1948)

Following is the List of precursors to the Southern Command and their commanders:{{Cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Army Commands|archivedate=5 July 2015}}

= Southern Command (1907–1908) =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="6" |General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command

style="background:#cccccc"

! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No

! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Name

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Assumed office

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Left office

! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Unit of Commission

! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | References

|General Sir Archibald Hunter {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|DSO}}}}

|June 1907

|October 1908

|4th (King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot

= Southern Army (1908–1920) =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="6" |General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Army

style="background:#cccccc"

! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No

! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Name

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Assumed office

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Left office

! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Unit of Commission

! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | References

|General Sir Edmund G. Barrow {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB}}}}

|October 1908

|October 1912

|102nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Madras Fusiliers)

|General Sir John E. Nixon {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB}}}}

|October 1912

|February 1915

|75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot

|Lieutenant General Sir Robert I. Scallon {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KCIE|DSO}}}}

|February 1915

|1916

|72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) Regiment of Foot

|Lieutenant General Sir Charles A. Anderson {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KCIE|AM}}}}

|April 1917

|November 1919

|Royal Horse Artillery

|Lieutenant General Sir William R. Marshall {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCMG|KCB|KCSI}}}}

|November 1919

|1920

|Sherwood Foresters

= Southern Command (1920–1942) =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="6" |General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command

style="background:#cccccc"

! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No

! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Name

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Assumed office

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Left office

! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Unit of Commission

! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | References

|Lieutenant General Sir William R. Marshall {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCMG|KCB|KCSI}}}}

|1920

|December 1923

|Sherwood Foresters

|Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Skeen {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCIE|CB|CMG}}}}

|December 1923

|March 1924

|King's Own Scottish Borderers

|Lieutenant General Sir Harold B. Walker {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KCMG|DSO}}}}

|March 1924

|March 1928

|Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

|General Sir William C. G. Heneker {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KCMG|DSO}}}}

|March 1928

|March 1932

|Connaught Rangers

|General Sir George D. Jeffreys {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KCVO|CMG}}}}

|March 1932

|March 1936

|Grenadier Guards

|Lieutenant General Sir Ivo L. B. Vesey {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KBE|CMG|DSO}}}}

|March 1936

|October 1937

|Queen's Royal Regiment

|General Sir John E. S. Brind {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|KBE|CMG|DSO}}}}

|October 1937

|March 1941

|Royal Artillery

|Lieutenant General Thomas S. Riddell-Webster {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|DSO}}}}

|March 1941

|October 1941

|Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

|General Sir Brodie Haig {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|MC*}}}}

|October 1941

|June 1942

|24th Punjabis

= Southern Army (1942–1945) =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="6" |General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Army

style="background:#cccccc"

! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No

! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Name

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Assumed office

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Left office

! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Unit of Commission

! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | References

|Lieutenant General Sir Noel M. de la P. Beresford-Peirse {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|CB|DSO}}}}

|June 1942

|March 1945

|Royal Artillery

List of GOC-in-C of Southern Command (1945- present)

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="6" |General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command

style="background:#cccccc"

! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No

! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Name

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Assumed office

! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Left office

! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Unit of Commission

! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | References

|Lieutenant General Rob Lockhart {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCB|CIE|MC}}}}

|April 1945

|15 August 1947

|51st Sikhs

|Lieutenant General Eric Goddard {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|CIE|CBE|MVO|MC}}}}

|15 August 1947

|1 May 1948

|107th Pioneers

|Lieutenant General Rajendrasinhji Jadeja {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DSO}}}}

|1 May 1948

|14 January 1953

|2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)

|Lieutenant General Satyawant M. Shrinagesh

|17 January 1953

|14 May 1955

|19th Hyderabad Regiment

|Lieutenant General K. S. Thimayya {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DSO}}}}

|15 May 1955

|14 September 1956

|19th Hyderabad Regiment

|Lieutenant General Pran Nath Thapar {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}

|21 January 1957

|24 May 1959

|1st Punjab Regiment

|Lieutenant General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OBE}}}}

|25 May 1959

|19 November 1962

|7th Light Cavalry

|{{cite book |last=Praval |first=Major K.C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdxDcxj_wn4C&pg=RA1-PT301 |title=Indian Army After Independence |year=1987 |publisher=Lancer Publishers LLC |isbn=978-1-935501-61-9 |page=1}}

|Lieutenant General Lionel Protip Sen {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DSO}}}}

|10 May 1963

|7 May 1965

|10th Baluch Regiment

|Lieutenant General Moti Sagar {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}

|8 May 1965

|3 July 1969

|4th Gorkha Rifles

|Lieutenant General Gopal Gurunath Bewoor {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}

|4 July 1969

|14 January 1973

|Dogra Regiment

|{{cite web |title=Gopal Gurunath Bewoor |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Army-Chiefs/Chiefs-Army11.html |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204210425/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Army-Chiefs/Chiefs-Army11.html |archive-date=4 December 2007 |access-date=17 January 2018}}

|Lieutenant General Sartaj Singh {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GM}}}}

|27 January 1973

|31 July 1974

|Regiment of Artillery

|Lieutenant General Om Prakash Malhotra {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}

|1 August 1974

|19 January 1977

|Regiment of Artillery

|Lieutenant General A. M. Vohra {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}

|20 January 1977

|30 May 1979

|3rd Gorkha Rifles

|Lieutenant General A. N. Mathur {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM}}}}

|31 May 1979

|29 June 1980

|Corps of Signals

|Lieutenant General Ram Dharam Dass Hira {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|MVC}}}}

|30 June 1980

|31 August 1981

|11th Gorkha Rifles

|Lieutenant General Tirath Singh Oberoi {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|VrC}}}}

|1 September 1981

|30 November 1984

|Parachute Regiment

|{{Cite news |title=As Gen Arun Shridhar Vaidya retires, Indian Army reshuffles to appoint new army chief |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/as-gen-arun-shridhar-vaidya-retires-indian-army-reshuffles-to-appoint-new-army-chief/1/353964.html |access-date=2017-10-26}}

|Lieutenant General Ranjit Singh Dyal {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|MVC}}}}

|14 February 1985

|30 November 1986

|Parachute Regiment

|Lieutenant General Depinder Singh {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|VSM}}}}

|1 December 1986

|29 November 1988

|8th Gorkha Rifles

|Lieutenant General A. K. Chatterjee {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|VSM}}}}

|1 March 1988

|31 May 1990

|Sikh Light Infantry

|Lieutenant General Bipin Chandra Joshi {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}

|1 June 1990

|14 August 1992

|64 Cavalry

|{{cite book |last1=Abidi |first1=S. Sartaj Alam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k35_SlDMyUsC&pg=PA85 |title=Services Chiefs of India |last2=Sharma |first2=Satinder |publisher=Northern Book Centre |year=2007 |isbn=978-81-7211-162-5 |page=85}}

|Lieutenant General A. S. Kalkat {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|SYSM|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}}}

|15 August 1992

|31 December 1993

|8th Gorkha Rifles

|Lieutenant General Moti Dar {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}

|1 January 1994

|16 July 1995

|17th Horse (Poona Horse)

|Lieutenant General Ved Prakash Malik {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}

|17 July 1995

|31 August 1996

|Sikh Light Infantry

|Lieutenant General H. M. Khanna {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}

|1 September 1996

|3 January 1999

|Gorkha Rifles

|Lieutenant General Sundararajan Padmanabhan {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}}}

|4 January 1999

|30 September 2000

|Regiment of Artillery

|{{Cite web |title=rediff.com: Lt Gen Sundararajan Padmanabhan to be next army chief |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/aug/01josy.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153709/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/aug/01josy.htm |archive-date=24 October 2017 |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=www.rediff.com}}

|Lieutenant General Nirmal Chander Vij {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM}}}}

|1 October 2000

|31 September 2001

|Dogra Regiment

|{{Cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021101/main3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015160419/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021101/main3.htm |archive-date=15 October 2008 |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}

|Lieutenant General Gurbaksh Singh Sihota {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC|VSM}}}}

|9 October 2001

|29 February 2004

|7 Field Regiment

|{{cite web |date=2004-02-28 |title=Lt Gen GS Sihota retires on Feb 29 |website=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/lt-gen-gs-sihota-retires-on-feb-29/articleshow/526234.cms |access-date=2021-06-24}}

|Lieutenant General Balraj Singh Takhar {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}

|1 March 2004

|31 January 2006

|17th Horse (Poona Horse)

|{{Cite web |date=2005-11-04 |title=Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Army's Southern Command chief visits OTA in city |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/04/stories/2005110416640500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226060702/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/04/stories/2005110416640500.htm |archive-date=26 February 2008 |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=The Hindu}}{{Cite web |date=2004-12-30 |title=Tamil Nadu News : Army took six hours to get ready for relief |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123006850500.htm |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=The Hindu}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=woJmAAAAMAAJ |title=India Who's who |publisher=INFA Publications |year=2004}}

|Lieutenant General Aditya Singh {{small|PVSM, AVSM *}}

|1 March 2006

|30 September 2007

|9th Deccan Horse

|{{Cite web |title=LT. GEN. ADITYA SINGH PVSM, AVSM** (RETD) |url=http://www.delhipolicygroup.org/faculty/lt-gen-aditya-singh-pvsm-avsm-retd.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027125752/http://www.delhipolicygroup.org/faculty/lt-gen-aditya-singh-pvsm-avsm-retd.html |archive-date=27 October 2017 |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=www.delhipolicygroup.org}}{{Cite news |title=Lt Gen HS Lidder new CIDS |language=en |work=oneindia.com |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/03/02/lt-gen-hs-lidder-new-cids-1141380703.html |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027125944/https://www.oneindia.com/2006/03/02/lt-gen-hs-lidder-new-cids-1141380703.html |archive-date=27 October 2017}}

|Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|SM}}}}

|1 October 2007

|31 December 2008

|Bombay Sappers

|{{Cite web |title=Lt Gen ML Naidu to be next Vcoas : other Senior Appointments also announced |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=30687 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029204510/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=30687 |archive-date=29 October 2017 |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=pib.nic.in}}{{Cite web |title=Sainik Samchar 2007 |url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2007/oct01-07/h12.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027125611/http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2007/oct01-07/h12.htm |archive-date=27 October 2017}}

|Lieutenant General Pradeep Khanna {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}}}

|1 January 2009

|28 February 2011

|20 Lancers

|{{Cite web |title='Ekuverin-09' Indo-Maldivian troops joint exercise concludes |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=53744 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093113/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=53744 |archive-date=28 October 2017 |access-date=2017-10-27 |website=pib.nic.in}}

|Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar Singh {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}

|1 March 2011

|31 January 2013

|7th Light Cavalry

|{{Cite news |title=Lt Gen A K Singh is new GOC-in-C of Southern Command – Times of India |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Lt-Gen-A-K-Singh-is-new-GOC-in-C-of-Southern-Command/articleshow/7599012.cms |access-date=2017-10-26}}{{Cite news |date=2011-03-01 |title=Lt Gen A K Singh to head Southern Army Command |language=en-US |work=The Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/lt-gen-a-k-singh-to-head-southern-army-command/ |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027125748/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/lt-gen-a-k-singh-to-head-southern-army-command/ |archive-date=27 October 2017}}

|Lieutenant General Ashok Singh {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}

|1 February 2013

|31 December 2015

|Brigade of the Guards

|{{Cite web |title=Lt Gen Ashok Singh takes over as Southern Army commander – Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/lt-gen-ashok-singh-takes-over-as-southern-army-commander/1067713/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527073637/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/lt-gen-ashok-singh-takes-over-as-southern-army-commander/1067713 |archive-date=27 May 2014 |access-date=2017-10-26 |website=archive.indianexpress.com |language=en-gb}}

|Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|UYSM|AVSM|YSM|SM|VSM}}}}

|1 January 2016

|31 July 2016

|11th Gorkha Rifles

|{{Cite news |date=2016-01-02 |title=Lt Gen Bipin Rawat takes over as new Army Commander |language=en-US |work=The Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/lt-gen-bipin-rawat-takes-over-as-new-army-commander/ |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225044152/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/lt-gen-bipin-rawat-takes-over-as-new-army-commander/ |archive-date=25 December 2016}}

|Lieutenant General P. M. Hariz {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}

|1 September 2016

|30 November 2017

|Mechanised Infantry

|{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=2016-09-01 |title=Lt Gen P.M. Hariz is new chief of Southern Command |work=Business Standard India |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/lt-gen-p-m-hariz-is-new-chief-of-southern-command-116090101005_1.html |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219185917/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/lt-gen-p-m-hariz-is-new-chief-of-southern-command-116090101005_1.html |archive-date=19 December 2016}}

|Lieutenant General Dewan Rabindranath Soni {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|VSM}}}}

|1 December 2017

|1 October 2018

|Central India Horse

|{{Cite news |date=2017-12-02 |title=Lt Gen Soni takes over as chief of Southern Command |language=en-US |work=The Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/lt-gen-dr-soni-takes-over-as-chief-of-southern-command-4964165/ |access-date=2017-12-07}}

|Lieutenant General Satinder Kumar Saini {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|VSM}}}}

|1 October 2018

|24 January 2020

|Jat Regiment

|{{cite web |date=1 October 2018 |title=General SK Saini, new head of Southern Command |url=https://www.devdiscourse.com/Article/headlines/202678-general-sk-saini-new-head-of-southern-command |access-date=1 October 2018 |publisher=Devdiscourse}}

|Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM|VSM}}}}

|30 January 2020

|31 January 2021

|Rajput Regiment

|{{cite web |date=31 January 2020 |title=Lt Gen CP Mohanty assumes command of Pune-based Southern Command |url=https://m-hindustantimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/lt-gen-cp-mohanty-assumes-command-of-pune-based-southern-command/story-DDUDrdPqYoSF1hGqGauECO_amp.html?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#aoh=15805270697948&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fm.hindustantimes.com%2Fpune-news%2Flt-gen-cp-mohanty-assumes-command-of-pune-based-southern-command%2Fstory-DDUDrdPqYoSF1hGqGauECO_amp.html%23aoh%3D15805270697948%26referrer%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%26amp_tf%3DFrom%2520%25251%2524s |website=Hindustan Times}}

|Lieutenant General Jai Singh Nain {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|SM}}}}

|1 February 2021

|31 October 2022

|Dogra Regiment

|{{cite web |date=31 January 2021 |title=JS Nain army commander southern command |url=https://deccanexpress.co/defence/pune-southern-command-lieutenant-general-js-nain-is-the-new-southern-army-commander-16734/ |access-date=1 February 2021 |publisher=Deccan Express}}

|Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|SM|VSM}}}}

|1 November 2022

|30 June 2024

|11th Gorkha Rifles

|{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1587395200397168641|title=Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh assumed the command of Southern Command today.|date=2022-11-01|access-date=2022-11-01}}

|Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth {{small|{{post-nominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}

|1 July 2024

|Incumbent

|2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)

|{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth assumes command of Pune-based Southern Army |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/lt-gen-dhiraj-seth-assumes-command-of-pune-based-southern-army-9426241/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Notes

Sources

{{cite book|first1=Richard |last1=Rinaldi |first2=Ravi |last2=Rikhye|title=Indian Army Order of Battle|publisher=General Data|year=2011|isbn=978-0982054178}}

Category:Commands of the Indian Army

Category:Military units and formations established in 1895

Category:Military units and formations of India in World War II

Category:1895 establishments in India