Deependra Singh Hooda

Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM & Bar, ADC (born 12 November 1956) is the former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian army's Northern Command.[1] The General Officer was the Northern Army Commander during the 'surgical strike' in September 2016. He is most prominently known for his views on Kashmir with a strong emphasis on human rights. With a career spanning forty years, he has served on both the Northern and Eastern borders of India.[2]

Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM**, ADC
Born	(1956-11-12) 12 November 1956
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Army
Years of service	15 December 1976 - 30 November 2016
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	4/4 Gorkha Rifles
Commands held	Northern Army 16 Corps
Battles/wars	Kargil War
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal (Bar)
Spouse(s)	Rashmi Hooda

Military career

He did his schooling from St. Columba's School, Delhi. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune was commissioned into the Indian Army on 15 December 1976. He spent time in his early career in the 4th Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles, which he later commanded.[3]

His career spanned over four decades. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal (Bar). He has been an instructor at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow and Col GS of a Strike Corps. He has also had tenures in the Military Operations Directorate and the Quarter Master General's Branch at the Army Headquarters.[3] He has also served on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea [4] for which he was awarded the UNMEE Medal.

He retired on 30 November 2016 after nearly 40 years of service in the Indian Army.[5]

Awards and Decorations

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Uttam Yudh Seva Medal	Ati Vishist Seva Medal	Vishisht Seva Medal
Samanya Seva Medal	Special Service Medal	Operation Vijay Medal	Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal	High Altitude Service Medal	Videsh Seva Medal	50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal	UNMEE Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia	Rank	Component	Date of rank
	Second Lieutenant	Indian Army	15 December 1976[6]
	Lieutenant	Indian Army	15 December 1978[7]
	Captain	Indian Army	15 December 1982[8]
	Major	Indian Army	15 December 1987[9]
	Lieutenant-Colonel	Indian Army
	Colonel	Indian Army
	Brigadier	Indian Army	4 July 2006[10]
	Major General	Indian Army	1 April 2010 (seniority from 8 January 2008)[11]
	Lieutenant-General	Indian Army	17 August 2012 (substantive)[12]

Personal life

He is married to Rashmi Hooda.[13]

References

1. "DS Hooda interview: 'The image of youth tied to jeep doesn't define the Army's approach to Kashmir'". Archived from the original on 21 April 2017.
2. "Peace along the border is not a one-way process, says Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda". Archived from the original on 18 May 2017.
3. "Lieutenant General D.S. Hooda Profile". Archived from the original on 28 July 2017.
4. "J&K: Lt Gen D S Hooda took over as new GOC of 16 corps". Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.
5. "INFORMATION NOTE (11.09.2016)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2017.
6. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 6 October 1979. p. 895.
7. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 5 January 1980. p. 35.
8. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 30 April 1983. p. 644.
9. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 31 December 1988. p. 1942.
10. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 26 May 2007. p. 867.
11. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 4 June 2011. p. 1067.
12. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 8 June 2013. p. 863.
13. "Northern Command Chief Visits Chinar Corps". Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.

Military offices
Preceded by Sanjiv Chachra	General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command 1 June 2014 - 30 November 2016	Succeeded by Devraj Anbu
Preceded by A S Nandlal	General Officer Commanding XVI Corps 1 September 2012 - April 15, 2014	Succeeded by Konsam Himalay Singh