Lt Gen Akhilesh Kumar takes command of Army’s Strike One Corps at Mathura
Lt Gen Akhilesh Kumar assumes command of the Indian Army’s 1 Corps at Mathura and pays tribute to fallen soldiers. (Image courtesy: x/@NorthernComd_IA)
New Delhi: Lieutenant General Akhilesh Kumar has assumed command of the Indian Army’s 1 Corps at Mathura, succeeding Lt Gen V Hariharan as general officer commanding (GOC) of the formation also known as Strike One Corps. The officer brings more than 34 years of service, including experience along the line of control (LoC) and in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations in Jammu & Kashmir.
After taking over on Thursday, Lt Gen Kumar paid homage to fallen soldiers and urged all ranks to remain focused on operational preparedness while continuing to serve with professionalism and dedication.
The Army said Lt Gen Kumar has served across varied terrains and operational environments. Commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles on June 13, 1992, he went on to command his parent battalion, a Rashtriya Rifles sector in Jammu & Kashmir and an infantry division under a strike corps.
An alumnus of Sainik School, Tilaiya, and the National Defence Academy, Pune, Lt Gen Kumar has held key staff appointments including colonel general staff of a reorganized Army plains infantry division (RAPID), colonel military secretary and brigadier discipline and vigilance.
Before assuming command of 1 Corps, he was additional director general, discipline and vigilance, in the adjutant general’s branch.
Lt Gen Kumar holds a master of science degree from Madras University and a master’s in management studies from Osmania University. His decorations include the Sena Medal (Distinguished), Vishisht Seva Medal and a General Officer Commanding in Chief Commendation Card from South Western Command.
Headquartered at Mathura, 1 Corps was raised in April 1965 and became part of Northern Command in 2021. The formation, whose earlier mandate focused on India’s western borders, is now tasked for operations along the LAC in the western theatre.
Lt Gen Kumar’s experience along the LoC and in counter-terrorism operations therefore comes from a distinct operational environment from the corps’ present LAC-oriented role. His predecessor, Lt Gen Hariharan, has been appointed director general, Defence Intelligence Agency and deputy chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence).
Lt Gen Kumar now assumes responsibility for the corps’ operational preparedness, training and professional readiness, priorities he emphasized while addressing troops after taking command.
