The Centre on Saturday appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff, elevating him to the rank of General. He is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
The Ministry of Defence announced in a post on X that the appointment will take effect from the afternoon of June 30, 2026. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth will take over as Chief of the Army Staff following the retirement of General Upendra Dwivedi on the same day.
The ministry noted that Lieutenant General Seth, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and an officer of the Armoured Corps, brings nearly four decades of distinguished service. His career has been marked by extensive experience in command, staff and strategic roles across a variety of operational and institutional assignments.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Seth has held numerous key operational, command and strategic positions throughout his illustrious military career.
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth’s Leadership Roles Over the Years
Throughout his career, the General Officer has led a variety of units and formations in diverse operational settings. His command assignments include an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector, an Armoured Brigade in the western theater, and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir.
After attaining the rank of Lieutenant General, he commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army’s leading strike formations. He later served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, where he was responsible for overseeing several significant national and international military engagements.
The Ministry further highlighted that as an Army Commander, Lieutenant General Seth headed both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, making him one of the few officers to have commanded two operational Army Commands.
Over a period of more than two and a half years, he played a key role in providing strategic leadership across vital operational sectors while contributing significantly to operational planning, force management, and the enhancement of military capabilities.
The Ministry noted that Lieutenant General Seth has made significant contributions to the Indian Army’s modernisation initiatives through several key appointments in strategic planning and capability development. His efforts have been directed towards integrating emerging technologies with operational requirements and preparing the force for future battlefield challenges.
The Ministry further stated that Lieutenant General Seth has an impressive record in professional military education. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and has also completed the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris.