- Brings Four Decades of Operational and Strategic Experience
- Pledges Continuity in Modernisation and Operational Readiness
New Delhi. 30 June 2026. Marking a significant transition in the leadership of the Indian Army, General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on June 30, 2026. He succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, who superannuated after rendering more than four decades of distinguished service to the nation. General Seth takes over at a time when the Indian Army is undergoing rapid technological transformation, strengthening indigenous capabilities and preparing for the evolving challenges of multi-domain warfare.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, General Dhiraj Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. During a military career spanning nearly four decades, he has acquired extensive operational, strategic, capability development and institutional experience, making significant contributions to enhancing the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
General Seth has commanded troops at every level across varied operational environments. His command appointments include an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre, and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir, giving him extensive exposure to both conventional and sub-conventional operations.
As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army’s premier strike formations, responsible for maintaining offensive capabilities in the western theatre. He later served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area, where he oversaw several key national and international military engagements while also managing important ceremonial and administrative responsibilities in the national capital.
Following his elevation to the rank of Army Commander, General Seth earned the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands. He first led the South Western Command before taking over the Southern Command, providing strategic oversight across critical operational theatres for more than two and a half years. These appointments further strengthened his credentials in theatre-level operational planning, force management and strategic leadership.
Beyond field commands, General Seth has held several crucial staff appointments that have significantly influenced the Indian Army’s operational planning, capability development and organisational transformation. Widely recognised for his contribution to the Army’s modernisation initiatives, he served in key positions within the Strategic Planning and Capability Development verticals at Army Headquarters. In these roles, he played an important part in shaping the Army’s modernisation roadmap, long-term force structuring initiatives and capability development plans while ensuring that operational requirements remained aligned with emerging technologies and the demands of future battlefields.
An accomplished military scholar, General Seth has consistently distinguished himself in professional military education by securing top positions in several courses of instruction. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and has also attended the prestigious Command & Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and deep understanding of contemporary military affairs and international security dynamics.
With his extensive operational experience, strategic vision and commitment to force modernisation, General Dhiraj Seth assumes command of the Indian Army at a pivotal moment in its evolution. His leadership is expected to build upon ongoing efforts towards technological advancement, indigenous capability development, jointness among the armed forces and enhanced preparedness to meet emerging national security challenges.
The appointment of General Dhiraj Seth as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff ushers in a new chapter in the Indian Army’s leadership. Combining battlefield experience, strategic planning expertise and a proven record in force modernisation, he takes charge at a time when the Army is accelerating its transformation into a technologically advanced, agile and future-ready force. His tenure is expected to reinforce India’s military preparedness while further advancing the nation’s vision of self-reliance and integrated defence capabilities.
