The government on Saturday appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). Currently serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Seth will take over from General Upendra Dwivedi on June 30, 2026, following the latter's retirement.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said President Droupadi Murmu had approved the appointment of Lt Gen Seth in the substantive rank of General. His tenure as Army chief is expected to continue until August 31, 2028.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. With nearly four decades of military service, he has built an extensive career across operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains.
Notably, Lt Gen Seth will become the first officer from the Armoured Corps to lead the Indian Army since General Shankar Roychowdhury in 1997.
Throughout his career, he has commanded formations in diverse operational environments, including 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 Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army's premier strike formations.
He also served as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area, overseeing key military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities in the national capital.
Lt Gen Seth holds the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands — the South Western Command and the Southern Command — where he provided strategic oversight across some of India's most critical military theatres for more than two-and-a-half years.
Beyond field command, he has played a significant role in shaping the Army's modernisation efforts. Widely recognised for his contributions to force transformation, he served in key strategic planning and capability development roles at Army Headquarters, helping formulate the Army's modernisation roadmap, capability enhancement plans and long-term force restructuring initiatives.
An accomplished military professional, Lt Gen Seth is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College. He also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and deep understanding of contemporary military affairs.
He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his distinguished service to the nation.
With extensive operational experience, strategic vision and expertise in military modernisation, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth is set to lead the Indian Army through a crucial phase of transformation and evolving security challenges along India's borders.
