By M S Nazki
The Lt General Pratik Sharma has been Director General Information Warfare, one of the most important things in operations today! There should be no doubt that he will do wonders as Goc-in-c Northern Command Indian army!
-To open up this story we will tell you that the Lt General took over the Northern Army when the tensions between India and Pakistan were in a rapid hyper zone and the calm was an easy one!
-By the time things came to a standstill a colossal amount of damage had been inflicted upon Pakistan and the officers and soldiers of Northern Command as usual played a big role in the operational success on the IB as well as the LOC!
– Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, SM previously served as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy). Prior to that he was Director General of Military Operations at IHQ of MoD (Army). He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding II corps.
-The general officer is an alumnus of Uttar Pradesh Sainik School, Lucknow. He then attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
-He was commissioned into the 2nd battalion of the Madras Regiment on 19 December 1987 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. In a distinguished career spanning over 37 years he has served across vivid terrains and has undertaken many staff and instructional appointments.
-He has taken part in various operations at home and abroad, which includes UNOCI. On getting promoted to the rank of Brigadier, he commanded 80 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and kashmir.
– As a Major General, he was appointed as General Officer Commanding 25 Infantry Division and also served in the Military Secretary’s branch at the IHQ of MoD, New Delhi.
-After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant general, he was appointed as the Director General Information Warfare at the newly institutionalized Information Directorate at the Army Headquarters, New Delhi.[
– On 21 March 2022, he took over as the General Officer Commanding Kharga Corps (II Corps) from Lieutenant general N. S. Raja Subramani.
– A year later on 1 July 2023, he assumed the appointment of Director General of Military Operations. After completing his term as the DGMO, on 1 November 2024 Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma took over as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy).
-On 1 May 2024, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma took over as the General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, he assumed the post upon superannuation of Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar.
-A highly decorated officer with rich operational experience, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
-Now after arrival in the Northern Army he was all ove Jammu and Kashmir!
-Lt Gen Pratik Sharma (We will call him (GPS till the time he is here, Alphabet G by the way is for General)), Army Cdr reviewed security grid and prevailing security scenario in forward areas of North Kashmir under Chinar Corps.
– He witnessed a live demo of innovations and tech infusion that boost operational capability and mission effectiveness.
-He interacted with troops and emphasised on the need for peak operational readiness, rigorous training and swift response.
-Maintain sharp vigilance, adopt proactive measures!
Amid at that time the prevailing border situation and uneasy calm after heavy skirmishes between Indo-Pak armies, the Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited of Control (LoC) sectors in J&K’s twin border districts Rajouri and Poonch, where he complimented the Army troops for successful execution of operations.
The visit, Army said, was aimed to review prevailing security situations and operational readiness. During this visit, Indian Army further stated, the Army Commander complimented all ranks for successful execution of operations. He further exhorted the troops to maintain sharp vigilance, adopt proactive measures, and uphold exemplary professionalism at all times.
Lt Gen Sharma has varied exposure in staff and instructional appointments, including being a staff officer in the UN Mission.
He has held important appointments at Military Operations Directorate and Military Secretary Branch in the Army Headquarters. Lt Gen Sharma was also the Director General of Military Operations and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), prior to taking over as GOC-in-C, Northern Command.
On assuming the command, he conveyed his greetings to all ranks and expressed his commitment to take forward the excellent work done by his predecessors and all ranks of Northern Command.
“Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Army Commander Northern Command, visited an operational logistics unit, reviewing the operational and logistics transformation being undertaken with the vision of boosting operational readiness,” the Army’s Northern Command headquarters said.
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) commended the personnel for their high state of logistic readiness, automated functioning and capacity to sustain multi-domain operational demands. He emphasised the need for continued innovation to sustain operational superiority.
He also expressed confidence in the unit’s automated functioning and urged further integration of cutting-edge logistics solutions to bolster the Indian Army’s warfighting capabilities.
To be honest the man knows what he is doing! He makes me remember the veteran Hollywood actor Yul Brynner but one thing is certain you need a style of working it out in every profession! GPS had chosen the Indian Army and he has proved to be magical as a methodological General from the house of Indian Northern army that ensured Pakistan was in scraps!
