The Army Chief at Mana and Joshimath reviewed operational preparedness in the Garhwal sector of Uttarakhand, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), also took stock of the Army's work on border area development and its support for local communities.

Mana lies close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Joshimath, further down the valley, is a garrison town on the road to the border.

Army Chief at Mana briefed on combat readiness

General Seth was briefed on operational readiness, combat preparedness and the infrastructure projects under way in the sector. He met troops deployed in the area and commended their professionalism, dedication and resilience in guarding the country's frontiers.

He called for greater technology integration, continuous capability enhancement and sustained operational vigilance to meet evolving security challenges.

Garhwal sector covers the Uttarakhand stretch of the LAC

The Garhwal sector forms part of the Central sector of the LAC, which runs along Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Mana Pass, north of the village, is one of the high passes on this stretch. Road and bridge work in the area, much of it carried out by the Border Roads Organisation, has kept forward posts connected through the year. The region also hosted the opening of Yudh Abhyas 2026 at Auli, near Joshimath, in September, when Indian and US troops trained together in high-altitude terrain.

Mana is now officially called India's first village

Mana sits at the head of the Alaknanda valley, a few kilometres beyond Badrinath. For decades it was known as the last Indian village before the border. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it the first village of India during a visit in October 2022, and a signboard carrying the new name was put up at the entrance in 2023.

Soldiers and villagers work together on tourism

During his stop in the village, General Seth appreciated the joint efforts of Army personnel and residents in promoting tourism, preserving the region's cultural heritage and creating new sources of income. The Army said the visit reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable livelihoods and stronger border communities.

Border villages get focused development support

The Centre's Ministry of Home Affairs runs the Vibrant Villages Programme, which funds roads, power, telecom links and livelihood projects in villages along the northern border, including in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, where Mana lies.

General Seth, the 31st Chief of the Army Staff, had earlier reviewed preparedness at Central Command headquarters in Lucknow, which oversees the Uttarakhand frontier.