Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain today assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. Lieutenant General Jain is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, and was commissioned into the MAHAR Regiment in June 1988. His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan, service as a Military Observer with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and multiple tenures in high-altitude areas and counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and in the North East.

The General Officer also commanded a Sector in the UN Mission in South Sudan. On promotion to Lieutenant General, he commanded a Corps in Northern Command. He later served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command, where he contributed significantly to capability development, force restructuring and overall operational preparedness. On elevation as Army Commander, he served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.