Medal for Lt Gen Khanna

Southern command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna has been awarded the prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India. Gen Pradeep Khanna,VSM,ADC is an alumnus of National Defence Academy (NDA),Khadakwasla and was commissioned from Indian Military Academy in 1970 into 20 LANCERS (Armoured Corps). He has seen operational service at Western Frontier during 1971 war with Pakistan and served as Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade.

A consistent front-runner,Khanna was one of the first few in his batch to do the Staff College,Senior Command and Higher Command. He was selected to be Col Gen Staff of an Armoured Division and later director,Complaint Advisory Board at Chief of Army Staff Secretariat.

Khanna commanded an Armoured Division with distinction. During this assignment and he contributed immensely towards improving the habitat for Offr accn and façade of Army HQ. He has been decorated with Vishisht Seva Medal in recognition of his services in the planning and execution of modernization of Sena Bhawan as Additional Director General,Administration and Coordination.

On promotion,the General Officer assumed command of the elite 21 Corps and successfully conducted the World Military Games at Secunderabad and Corps Level Exercise,’DAKSHIN SHAKTI’ in March 2008. Khanna was appointed Chief of Staff,HQ Northern Command in 2008. He took over as Southern Command GOC-in-C three weeks ago,a release said.