One name that has received widespread attention and appreciation in developments following the Operation Sindoor is Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army. His calm and composed demeanor during the DGMO briefing, his responses to reporters’ questions, and the way he conducted the entire presser on Operation Sindoor earned him praise from many. Along with Lt. General Rajiv Ghai, other officers who were lauded for their role and spearheaded the DGMO briefing were Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod, and Major General S.S. Sharda.
Who Is Lt General Rajiv Ghai?
Lt. General Rajiv Ghai assumed the position of DGMO of the Indian Army on October 25, 2024. Before assuming the charge as DGMO, Ghai was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC) of the Chinnar Corps. He has a distinguished military service of more than three decades, with experience of working in Jammu and Kashmir, along the LoC extensively. He has been awarded military honours for his exemplary service. These include Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Sena Medal (SM).
Lt. General Ghai is an alumni of the Wellington’s Defence Services Staff College, Army College in Mau, and the National Defence College in Delhi. He is a graduate of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment in December 1989. In 33 years of his military career, he has served as Colonel General Staff for a division formed for counter-insurgency operations in J&K, and as a Brigadier at the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters.
He has also commanded a battalion in the Western Sector, and a brigade on the Northern Border. Notably, in his inaugural address, Ghai had urged for coordination among the military, the civil administration, and society as to counter terrorism and foster development.
Role As DGMO
As DGMO, Lt Gen Ghai’s responsibility includes planning and commanding military operations like combat operations and counter-terror operations. He works in coordination with other services and ministries of the government. Apart from this, he is also the chief military interlocutor with Pakistan’s DGMO. He had visited Manipur on 24 and 25 February 2025, to evaluate the security situation along the Indo-Myanmar border.
During the DGMO briefing on Operation Sindoor, Lt General Ghai explained the success of Armed forces in hitting terror bases in Pakistan and PoK. He even shed light on ceasefire violation by Pakistan and DGMO level talks held between both the countries. In his briefing, Ghai reiterated India’s stand against Pakistan sponsored terrorism. “We have thus far exercised immense restraint, and our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory. However, any threat to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of our citizens will be met with decisive force,” stated Ghai.
