General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, formally assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army on 30 June 2026. He succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, who superannuated after more than four decades of distinguished service to the nation.
In a solemn change-of-command ceremony at the South Block Lawns in New Delhi, General Upendra Dwivedi was presented with a ceremonial Guard of Honour. The outgoing Chief also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to pay homage to the Bravehearts. General Dhiraj Seth formally took over the leadership of the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army in the presence of senior military and civilian officials.
A Distinguished Career Spanning Nearly Four Decades
General Dhiraj Seth is an Armoured Corps officer and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) on 20 December 1986 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is the third Chief of the Army Staff from the 2nd Lancers and the seventh from the Armoured Corps.
Over a career marked by operational excellence, strategic acumen, and institutional leadership, General Seth has held key command, staff, and instructional appointments 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 (Uniform Force) in Jammu & Kashmir. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps (XXI Corps), one of the Indian Army’s premier strike formations based in Bhopal. He subsequently served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, before elevation to Army Commander.
He earned the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands along the western front — first as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command (November 2023 – June 2024), and then as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command (July 2024 – March 2026). For his exemplary leadership as Southern Army Commander during Operation Sindoor, he was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) in 2026.
Prior to assuming the top post, General Seth served as the 49th Vice Chief of the Army Staff from 1 April 2026. He has also held pivotal staff appointments at Army Headquarters, including in the Strategic Planning Directorate and as Additional Director General Weapons and Equipment, where he played a significant role in shaping the Army’s modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap, and long-term force structuring.
Professional Military Education and International Exposure
A lifelong learner, General Seth has excelled in professional military education. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington (adjudged the best all-round student of his course in 2006), the Army War College, Mhow, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He has also attended the prestigious Command & Staff Course at the French Collège interarmées de Défense and the International Defense Acquisition Management Course at the Naval Postgraduate School, USA. He served with the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III (UNAVEM III) as an operations officer in 1995–96.
Awards and Decorations
General Seth’s distinguished service has been recognised with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), along with several commendations from the Chief of the Army Staff and Army Commanders, and various campaign and long-service medals.
Family Legacy and Personal Life
General Seth belongs to a distinguished military family. He is the son of Lieutenant General (Retd) Krishna Mohan Seth, who retired as the Adjutant General of the Indian Army in 1997 and had earlier commanded XXI Strike Corps and III Corps. His younger brother, Rear Admiral Ravnish Seth, is a serving flag officer in the Indian Navy. General Seth is married to Mrs Komal Seth, and the couple has two daughters. An avid sportsman, he excels in tennis and golf.
Strategic Priorities and the Road Ahead
General Dhiraj Seth assumes office at a time when the Indian Army is focused on enhancing operational readiness, accelerating indigenous modernisation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, and preparing for multi-domain operations in an increasingly dynamic geo-strategic environment. His extensive experience in command of strike formations, counter-insurgency operations, capability development, and force modernisation positions him well to lead the Army through ongoing transformation efforts, technological absorption, and the evolving character of warfare.
As the new Chief of the Army Staff, General Seth is expected to build upon the foundations laid by his predecessors while steering the force towards greater self-reliance, enhanced combat effectiveness, and sustained preparedness along the borders.
The Indian Army and the nation extend their best wishes to General Dhiraj Seth for a successful and impactful tenure as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff. His leadership is anticipated to further strengthen the Army’s role as a cornerstone of national security.
