For the first time in Indian military history, two classmates will serve as the chiefs of the Indian Army and Navy.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the new Army Chief, and Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, the Navy Chief, were classmates in Class 5 at Sainik School in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, during the 1970s. According to news agency ANI, they were in Class 5A with roll numbers 931 and 938, respectively.

Defence Ministry spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu highlighted this unique coincidence on X, stating, "For the first time in Indian military history, the Chiefs of Navy and Army hail from the same school. This rare honor of nurturing two prodigious students, who would go on to lead their respective services 50 years later, goes to Sainik School, Rewa in Madhya Pradesh."

Admiral Tripathi assumed command of the Indian Navy on May 1, while Lieutenant General Dwivedi will take charge as the Army Chief on June 30.