The Central government has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume office on June 30 following the retirement of the current Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, on the same day.
Announcing the appointment in a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said Lt Gen Seth, who is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will take over in the substantive rank of General with effect from the afternoon of June 30, 2026.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over a military career spanning nearly four decades, he has served in a range of operational, strategic, capability development and institutional roles.
The officer has commanded formations at various levels across diverse operational environments. His command assignments include 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 later served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing key military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
Following his elevation to Army Commander, Lt Gen Seth led both South Western Command and Southern Command, becoming one of the few officers to command two operational Army Commands. During his tenure, he provided strategic oversight across key theatres for more than two and a half years.
He has also held several important staff and strategic appointments at Army Headquarters, particularly in the areas of strategic planning and capability development. According to the Ministry of Defence, his contributions have played a role in advancing force modernisation, long-term capability development and future force structuring initiatives.
Lt Gen Seth is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College. He has also attended the Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his extensive professional military education and exposure to contemporary strategic affairs.
The Ministry said his distinguished service, extensive command experience and contributions to military modernisation position him to lead the Indian Army as it continues its transformation and capability enhancement efforts.
-ANI
