M. V. Suchindra Kumar Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

M. V. Suchindra Kumar is a lieutenant general of the Indian Army, who has served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Strategy). On 1 March 2023, he assumed the position of Indian Army’s 45th Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS).

Wiki/Biography

After completing his schooling at Sainik School Bijapur in Karnataka, M. V. Suchindra Kumar appeared for the entrance exam of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and cleared it. After completing a three-year military training module at the NDA in Pune, Maharashtra, he joined the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Uttarakhand in 1984. There, he underwent a year’s training and got commissioned into the Indian Army in June 1985. In the army, Suchindra Kumar earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. Later, Suchindra Kumar attended the National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi, where he earned a master’s degree in philosophy in National Security and Strategic Study.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 10″

Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper (half bald)

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Family

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information about his parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

His wife, Asha Suchindra, is an educationist and the chairperson of Prerna. He has two kids. His son Abhay is working in the finance sector in Singapore. His daughter Ananya is a doctor and is pursuing MS at SMS College in Jaipur.

Career

M. V. Suchindra Kumar was commissioned into the Indian Army on June 1985 as a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion of the Assam Regiment. Soon after commissioning, he attended the Young Officers (YO) course at the Army War College in Mhow. Suchindra became a company commander after getting promoted to major. Later, he attended the Junior Command (JC) course at the Army War College in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. As a colonel, he commanded a battalion of the Assam Regiment. Later, he was posted to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, where he assumed the command of the 59th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (Assam) and participated in several counter-insurgency operations.

Suchindra was later posted to New Delhi in the Military Secretary (MS) Branch. He has also served with the United Nations (UN) as the Sector Senior Operations Officer in the Transitional Authority in Cambodia. He was later posted to Lesotho as a part of the training team sent by the Indian Army. Suchindra Kumar has attended several international military courses such as the Cooperative Security in South Asia in Sri Lanka and the United Nations Senior Mission Leaders Course in Egypt. Thereafter, he served as an instructor at the Army War College in Mhow. After getting promoted to the rank of brigadier, M. V. Suchindra Kumar was deployed along the Line of Control, where he commanded the 120 Infantry Brigade. Thereafter, he was posted to the Dimapur-based 3 Corps (aka the Spear Corps), operating under the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, as the Brigadier General Staff (BGS). As a major general, he assumed the command of an Infantry Division posted at the Line of Control. Later, he was posted to New Delhi, where he assumed the position of Additional Director General of Military Intelligence (ADGMI) at the Military Intelligence (MI) Directorate.

After getting promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, on 14 October 2020, he assumed charge of the White Knight Corps (also known as the XVI Corps) in Nagrota, replacing Lt Gen Harsh Gupta. The corps is known to be heavily involved in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir. After assuming command of the XVI Corps, in an interview, Suchindra said,

It is a matter of pride and honour for me to hold such an important position with the rich history of Jammu and Kashmir.”

M. V. Suchindra Kumar (left) taking the baton of command from Lt Gen Harsha Gupta

He served as a corps commander till 28 October 2021. M. V. Suchindra Kumar became the Colonel of the Regiment of the Assam Regiment and the Arunachal Scouts on 1 March 2021. On 28 October 2021, he was posted to New Delhi, where he assumed the position of Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI). He served there till 1 July 2022. Suchindra Kumar replaced Lt Gen Sanjeev Sharma as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) on 1 July 2022. He held the post till his appointment as the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS).

M. V. Suchindra Kumar replaced Lt Gen B. S. Raju as the VCOAS and assumed the position on 1 March 2023. He retired from his position on 18 february 2024 and was replaced by Upendra Dwivedi on 19 February 2024.

Military Decorations

• In January 2014, the Government of India awarded Suchindra Kumar a Yudh Seva Medal (YSM).

• He received the UNTAC Medal for participating in a UN Mission to Cambodia.

• The Government of India awarded him with a Sainya Seva Medal.

• Suchindra Kumar has also earned a Videsh Seva Medal.

• Later, he received a Special Service Medal from the Indian government.

• The Government of India awarded him with a Samanya Seva Medal.

• He was awarded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendation card by the Indian Army.

• In January 2018, M. V. Suchindra Kumar received the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) from the Indian government.

• Suchindra Kumar was awarded another Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) in January 2019.

• Suchindra received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) from the Government of India in January 2022.

  President Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) to Lt Gen M. V. Suchindra Kumar

Facts/Trivia

• In 2020, M. V. Suchindra participated in a bike expedition from Kargil to Karakoram Pass to commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas. He was among the few Army Commanders who did so.

  M.V. Suchindra Kumar (extreme right) with other Army Commanders while riding bikes to the Karakoram Pass

• M. V. Suchindra is passionate about golf.

• To maintain his fitness, M.V. Suchindra Kumar regularly practices yoga. He has participated in many half-marathons.