Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon

Lieutenant General K J S Dhillon PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM
Nickname(s)	Tiny Dhillon
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Army
Years of service	December 1983 – January 2022
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	4 Rajputana Rifles
Commands	XV Corps
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
Other work	Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG) of IIT Mandi

Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM is a retired General Officer of the Indian Army and the Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG) of IIT Mandi. ^[1] He last served as the Director General Defence Intelligence Agency (DG DIA) and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence) (DCIDS Int) under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from 9 March 2020 to 31 January 2022. ^[2] Prior to this, he served as the 48th Commander of the XV Corps assuming the post from Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Bhatt. ^{[3] [4]}

Early life and education

Dhillon is an alumnus of Sherwood College Nainital, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla & Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He graduated from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the National Defence College, Delhi. ^[4]

Career

Dhillon was commissioned in December 1983 in 4'th Battalion of Rajputana Rifles and has had an illustrious military career spanning 39 years is credited with important appointments at the Army Headquarters and instructional appointments at Infantry School, Mhow, and Indian Army training team abroad. ^[5] He has an incisive understanding of Jammu and Kashmir, as he served there for five tenures since 1988 with notable being sector commander of Rashtriya Rifles and Brigadier General Staff of the Chinar Corps. ^[4] Before taking over as the Chinar Corps Commander, the General Officer was tenanting the appointment of Director General Perspective Planning. ^[6] He was appointed as the Colonel of the Regiment of Rajputana Rifles on 21 September 2019, when he took over from Lt Gen Abhay Krishna. ^[7] He retired from Service on 31 January 2022 handing over the reigns to his successor Lt Gen CP Cariappa as the Colonel of Regiment of Rajputana Rifles.^{[ citation needed ]}

As XV Corps commander

He has successfully maintained a balance, in Kashmir's security scenario, between counter-infiltration and counter-terrorist operations on one hand and the use of military soft power on the other. The perpetrators of Pulwama Blast were targeted in the first 100 hours. ^[8] In an official statement on this, he described his efforts against terror launch pads especially, "after August 5 last year", as the statement read. ^[9]

Awards and decorations

During his military career of 39 years, he has been awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal. ^[10]

Param Vishist Seva Medal	Uttam Yudh Seva Medal		Yudh 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 Anniversary of Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

Later career

Dhillon was appointed as the Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG) of Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, on 25 August 2023 for a period of three years. ^[11] Dhillon will succeed Professor Prem Vrat, the founding director of IIT Roorkee, in the position.

Books

• Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye, My Life Story ^[12]
• Wafadari, Imaandari, Zimmedari (WIZ): War-room to Board-room

References

1. "'Operation Maa' author in Kashmir, Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon hangs up his boots". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
2. "Lt Gen KJS Dhillon to take charge as DG DIA, DCIDS". India Today . Press Trust of India. 9 March 2020.
3. "lt-gen-dhillon-takes-over-as-goc-15-corps". 9 February 2019. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
4. Desk, KR Web. "Lt Gen KJS Dhillon takes over as GoC of Srinagar-based 15 Corps". Kashmir Reader. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
5. Manjeet Negi (8 February 2019). "KJS Dhillon takes charge of Colonel of Regiment of Rajputana Rifles". India Today. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
6. "Lt Gen KJS Dhillon Is New Kashmir CORPS Commander". Kashmir Life. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
7. Negi, Manjeet Singh (21 September 2019). "KJS Dhillon takes charge of Colonel of Regiment of Rajputana Rifles". India Today.
8. "Pulwama encounter: Armymen led from front to prevent civilian casualties, says Lt Gen KJS Dhillon". India Today. Ist.
9. Lt Gen Dhillon hands over command of Kashmir based 15 Corps to Lt Gen BS Raju
10. "Army's 15 Corps commander awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for his services in Kashmir valley". The New Indian Express.
11. "Lt Gen Dhillon is IIT-Mandi BoG Chairperson". Indian Express .
12. Chellappan, Kumar (7 May 2022). "Kashmir's story comes alive through a veteran's eyes". Irish Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.

Military offices
Preceded by Anil Kumar Bhatt	General Officer Commanding XV Corps 9 February 2019 – 29 February 2020	Succeeded by B. S. Raju
Preceded by	Director General of Perspective Planning	Succeeded by