Centre Announces New Army Chief; Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth to Succeed General Dwivedi
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
New Delhi/Pune, 13th June 2026: The Central Government has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume charge on the afternoon of June 30, 2026, following the retirement of the incumbent Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, who completes his tenure on the same day.
Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Seth brings nearly 40 years of military experience spanning operational command, strategic planning, force development and institutional leadership.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Lieutenant General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Throughout his career, he has held a series of key command and staff appointments across different operational theatres of the country.
His field assignments have included command of an armoured regiment in the desert sector, an armoured brigade in the western region, and a counter-insurgency formation in Jammu and Kashmir. At the rank of Lieutenant General, he led the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army’s principal strike formations.
He later served as the General Officer Commanding of Delhi Area, where he was responsible for overseeing military operations, ceremonial duties and engagements involving national and international delegations in the capital.
After being elevated to the rank of Army Commander, Lieutenant General Seth headed both the South Western Command and the Southern Command. Military officials note that he is among the few senior officers to have commanded two operational Army Commands, providing strategic leadership across extensive areas of responsibility.
In addition to field commands, he has played a significant role in shaping the Army’s long-term capability development and modernisation efforts. During his tenure at Army Headquarters, he was associated with strategic planning and force development initiatives aimed at enhancing operational preparedness and integrating emerging technologies into future military structures.
Lieutenant General Seth is also recognised for his academic and professional achievements within the armed forces. He has completed several advanced military training programmes, including the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College. He has also attended the Command and Staff Course in Paris, gaining exposure to international military perspectives and strategic studies.
With his appointment, the Indian Army’s leadership transition will take place at the end of June as Lieutenant General Seth prepares to take charge as the country’s next Army Chief.
