Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth Appointed as the 31st Army Chief

The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) with effect from 30 June 2026. He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi, who assumed office as the 30th Army Chief in June 2024 and is scheduled to retire at the end of June 2026.

About Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), UYSM (Uttam Yudh Seva Medal), and AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal), is a distinguished Armoured Corps officer with nearly four decades of service in the Indian Army. He has held several important operational, command, instructional, and strategic appointments during his military career. 

• He is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
• He will be the first chief from the armoured corps after General Shankar Roy Chowdhury, who retired in 1997.

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth Family Background

• Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth comes from a distinguished family with a long tradition of service in the Indian Armed Forces.
• His father, Krishna Mohan Seth, served as the Adjutant General of the Indian Army and later as Governor of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura.
• Both father and son have commanded the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps (XXI Corps), one of the Indian Army’s principal strike formations.
• His younger brother, Ravnish Seth, is a Rear Admiral in the Indian Navy.

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth Education

• Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy.
• He was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986.
• He completed the Higher Command Course and graduated from the National Defence College.
• He also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris.

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth Key Command Assignments

• He commanded an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector.
• He commanded an Armoured Brigade in the western theatre and oversaw operational preparedness along a sensitive frontier.
• He led a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir and contributed to internal security operations.
• As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army’s principal strike formations.
• He served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, where he was responsible for important ceremonial, administrative, and security responsibilities, including leading the Republic Day Parade in 2023.

• He commanded the South Western Command at Jaipur and the Southern Command at Pune, becoming one of the few officers to lead two operational Army Commands before being appointed Chief of the Army Staff.

Lieutenant General Seth Major Contributions

• Lieutenant General Seth has played a significant role in shaping the Indian Army’s modernisation and long-term capability development strategy. His work has strengthened the Army’s preparedness for both conventional military operations and future warfare environments.
• Encouraged the integration of emerging technologies, particularly drones and unmanned systems, into military operations.
• Contributed to aligning the Army’s structure and capabilities with the requirements of future warfare.
• As Southern Army Commander, promoted the use of drone-based capabilities in armoured and mechanised formations.
• Contributed to professional military education and doctrinal development through instructional assignments at leading military institutions.
• Held key appointments related to strategic planning and capability development at Army Headquarters, where he contributed to future force planning and defence preparedness.

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About Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is the professional head of the Indian Army and the highest-ranking serving officer in the Army. The COAS is responsible for the command, control, administration, operational preparedness, and modernization of the Indian Army.

About Appointment of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)

• The COAS is appointed by the Government of India through the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by the Prime Minister. 
• The appointment is made by the President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
• The senior-most serving Army Commander is usually considered for appointment, although seniority is not a constitutional requirement.
• The Chief holds the rank of a four-star General.
• The tenure continues until the officer attains the age of 62 years or as prescribed by the Government.
• The COAS functions under the civilian control of the Ministry of Defence. 

Key Functions of the Army Chief

• Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) the Indian Army and exercises overall command over all Army formations.
• He advises the Government of India on military, strategic, and national security matters related to land warfare.
• Ensures operational readiness of the Army to deal with conventional and emerging security threats.
• Oversees defence preparedness along India’s borders and in sensitive operational theatres.
• Directs military planning, force structuring, and capability development.
• Leads modernization initiatives, including induction of advanced weapons, platforms, and technologies.
• Supervises training, doctrine formulation, and professional military education.
• Manages personnel policies, welfare, discipline, and human resource development within the Army.
• Coordinates with the Navy, Air Force, and other security agencies to promote jointness and integrated military operations.
• Serves as a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and works closely with the Chief of Defence Staff on tri-service issues.
• Provides military inputs during national emergencies, wars, counter-insurgency operations, and disaster relief operations.
• Represents the Indian Army in international military engagements, defence diplomacy, and strategic dialogues.