Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth Named Next Army Chief
Vice Chief of Army Staff to take over from General Upendra Dwivedi on June 30
- Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth appointed next Chief of the Army Staff
- Will assume office on June 30, 2026
- Currently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff
- Veteran Armoured Corps officer with nearly 40 years of service
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th June: The Government on Saturday appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who is set to retire on June 30, 2026.
According to an official announcement, Lt Gen Seth, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will assume charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff from the afternoon of June 30.
A decorated officer, Lt Gen Seth has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) during his distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, he was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986 and has held several key operational, strategic and leadership appointments across the Indian Army.
Lt Gen Seth has commanded formations at every level in diverse operational environments. His command assignments include 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 commanded the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army’s premier strike formations, before serving as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area, overseeing key military and ceremonial responsibilities in the national capital.
After being elevated to Army Commander rank, he led both the South Western Command and Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands. He provided strategic oversight across critical military theatres for more than two-and-a-half years.
The officer is also widely recognised for his role in force modernisation and capability development. During his tenure at Army Headquarters, he held important appointments in strategic planning and capability development, helping shape the Army’s modernisation roadmap and future force structure.
Officials noted that his contributions have been instrumental in integrating emerging technologies with operational requirements and preparing the Army for future battlefield challenges.
Lt Gen Seth is also known for his academic and professional achievements. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College and has attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris.
His appointment comes at a time when the Indian Army is focusing on technological transformation, modernisation and enhanced operational preparedness amid evolving security challenges.
