New Delhi, June 13: The Government of India on Saturday appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume charge from the afternoon of June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires from service the same day.
Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Seth is a decorated officer with nearly four decades of military experience spanning operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held several key command and staff appointments across diverse operational environments.
His command assignments include leading 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 prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps and later served as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area.
Upon elevation to Army Commander, Lt Gen Seth headed both the South Western Command and Southern Command, becoming one of the few officers to command two operational Army Commands. During this period, he provided strategic oversight across critical theatres and contributed significantly to operational preparedness.
Widely recognised for his role in force modernisation, Lt Gen Seth has served in key appointments related to strategic planning and capability development at Army Headquarters. His contributions have helped shape the Army’s long-term modernisation roadmap, force restructuring initiatives and integration of emerging technologies.
A highly accomplished military professional, he is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College. He also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his extensive exposure to contemporary military and strategic affairs.
