Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth Appointed as New Chief of Army Staff
Appointment of New Army Chief
File image of Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth(Photo: @SpokespersonMoD/X)
New Delhi, June 13: The government has announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), effective June 30, 2026.
Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Seth will take over the position on the same day that the current COAS, General Upendra Dwivedi, retires.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986.
With a military career spanning over 40 years, he has gained extensive experience in operational, strategic, and institutional areas, significantly enhancing the Indian Army's combat capabilities and transformation efforts.
His command experience includes leading an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre, and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir.
As a Lieutenant General, he led the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army's elite strike formations, and served as the General Officer Commanding for the Delhi zone, managing both national and international military events.
He has the unique distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands, providing strategic oversight in critical areas for over 2.6 years.
Throughout his career, Lt Gen Seth has held various roles that have shaped operational planning, force management, and capability development.
He is well-regarded for his contributions to force modernization, influencing its trajectory and long-term structuring initiatives.
As a distinguished military professional, he has excelled in various instructional courses, including the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and attended the prestigious Command & Staff Course in Paris, showcasing his strategic insight into modern military affairs.