Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth Appointed as New Army Chief

New Appointment of Army Chief

The government has announced that Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth will take over as the next Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on June 30. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, it has been directed to inform that Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth (PVSM, UYSM, AVSM) has been appointed to the rank of General as the next COAS, effective from June 30, 2026. He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi (PVSM, AVSM), and his term will extend until August 31, 2028.

Current Role and Background

Currently serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), Lieutenant General Seth assumed this role in April of this year. Following the retirement of the current Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, on June 30, he will step into the top position. A graduate of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Lieutenant General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over nearly four decades, he has gained extensive experience in operational, strategic, capability development, and institutional domains.

Command Assignments and Achievements

The government’s statement highlighted his command assignments, which include leading an armoured regiment in desert terrain, commanding an armoured brigade in the Western Theatre, and overseeing a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir. The incoming COAS has also commanded one of the army's primary strike formations, the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, and has served as the General Officer Commanding of the Delhi Area, in addition to leading the South Western Command and Southern Command.

Significant Contributions

Lieutenant General Seth has a notable achievement of commanding two operational commands – the South Western Command and Southern Command – for over two and a half years, providing strategic oversight in critical theatres.

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