General Dhiraj Seth Takes Charge as India’s 31st Army Chief
Veteran Armoured Corps officer succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi after nearly four decades of distinguished military service
- General Dhiraj Seth assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff.
- He succeeded General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after over 40 years of service.
- General Seth has commanded two Army Commands and several key operational formations.
- He played a major role in force modernisation and long-term capability development.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th June: General Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who superannuated after more than four decades of distinguished service to the nation.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. During a military career spanning nearly four decades, he has held a wide range of operational, strategic and institutional appointments, contributing significantly to the Indian Army’s combat capability and modernisation.
General Seth has commanded an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. As a Lieutenant General, he led the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army’s premier strike formations, before serving as the General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing key military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
After being elevated to the rank of Army Commander, he commanded both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of leading two operational Army Commands. During this period, he provided strategic oversight across critical operational theatres.
Widely recognised for his contributions to force modernisation, General Seth has held several important appointments in the Army Headquarters, where he played a key role in strategic planning, capability development and long-term force structuring. His work has focused on integrating emerging technologies with future battlefield requirements.
A distinguished military professional, General Seth has excelled in professional military education. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course, the National Defence College, and has also completed the prestigious Command & Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his extensive strategic and international military exposure.
His appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter in the leadership of the Indian Army as it continues its ongoing transformation and capability enhancement initiatives.
