| Honorific Prefix: | Lieutenant General |
| P S Rajeshwar | |
| Honorific Suffix: | PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC |
| Birth Date: | 1960 5, df=yes |
| Serviceyears: | December 1980 - May 2020 |
| Rank: | Lieutenant General |
| Servicenumber: | IC-39380A |
| Unit: | Regiment of Artillery |
| Commands: | Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command Chief of Integrated Defence Staff XII Corps |
| Battles: | Operation Parakram |
| Awards: | Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal |
Lieutenant General Podali Shankar Rajeshwar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a former General officer in the Indian Army. He last served as the 14th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, from December 2019 to May 2020. He took office on 1 December 2019 when Vice Admiral Bimal Verma retired.[1] [2] [3] He superannuated on 31 May 2020, handing over command to Lieutenant General Manoj Pande. Earlier, he had served as the 12th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, from November 2018 to November 2019.
Rajeshwar is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and National Defence College, Delhi. He also holds a master's degree in national security administration from National Defense College, Philippines.
Rajeshwar was commissioned into the Indian army's Regiment of Artillery in December 1980. He has various operational experiences in high altitude areas, counter-insurgency areas in the North East, and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. He has held commands of an artillery regiment during Operation Parakram, an infantry brigade at line of control, General-Officer-Commanding XII Corps, Director General of Perspective Planning at the Integrated Headquarters and GOC of Romeo Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also served in various United Nations Peacekeeping operations to Rwanda and Mozambique.[4] [5] [6]
Rajeshwar served as 12th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) of the Indian Armed Forces. He assumed the office on 1 November 2018 when Lieutenant General Satish Dua retired, and served in the same capacity till 30 November 2019 when Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar took over.[7] [8] [9]
During 38 years of his career, he has been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January (2020), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2018 and Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2016 for his service.[10] [11]
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | |||
| Vishisht Seva Medal | Samanya Seva Medal | Special Service Medal | ||
| Siachen Glacier Medal | Operation Vijay Medal | Operation Parakram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal | |
| High Altitude Service Medal | Videsh Seva Medal | 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal | 30 Years Long Service Medal | |
| 20 Years Long Service Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal | ONUMOZ | UNAMIR | |
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 December 1980[12] | |||
| Indian Army | 13 December 1982 | ||
| Indian Army | 13 December 1985[13] | ||
| Indian Army | 13 December 1991[14] | ||
| Indian Army | 31 December 2002[15] | ||
| Indian Army | 1 February 2005[16] | ||
| Indian Army | 12 December 2008 (acting) 1 February 2009 (substantive; seniority from 31 January 2008)[17] | ||
| Indian Army | 31 January 2013 (seniority from 11 April 2011)[18] | ||
| Indian Army | 1 April 2016 (substantive)[19] | ||