In a significant leadership transition for the Indian Army, the Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Seth will assume command on June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires after completing his tenure as the Army’s 30th chief.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over nearly four decades of distinguished service, he has held a wide range of operational, command and strategic appointments across the country.
Widely regarded as an experienced armoured corps officer, Lt Gen Seth has commanded an armoured regiment, an armoured brigade, the Sudarshan Chakra Corps (XXI Corps), Delhi Area, South Western Command and, most recently, the Southern Command before being elevated as Vice Chief of the Army Staff in April 2026. His career has also included extensive counter-insurgency experience and key staff assignments at the Army Headquarters.
The decorated officer has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation.
The Ministry of Defence described Lt Gen Seth’s military journey as one marked by extensive command, staff and strategic experience across diverse operational environments. His appointment comes at a time when the Indian Army is pursuing modernization, technological transformation and greater integration among the armed forces.
As he prepares to take over the Army’s highest post, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth will be entrusted with leading one of the world’s largest standing armies through an evolving security landscape, while continuing efforts to enhance operational readiness, indigenous capability development and future warfare preparedness.