The government has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army, as the next Army Chief. He will take over on June 30 when the incumbent General Upendra Dwivedi retires.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is from the Armoured Corps and was commissioned in December 1986. It is the first time in more than two decades that an Armoured Corps officer will become the Army Chief.
He has had extensive experience across the operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
The General has commanded at every level in 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 in Jammu & Kashmir.
As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the 21 Strike Corps, one of the Indian Army’s premier strike formations.
On elevation to Army Commander, the officer commanded South Western Command and Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands and providing strategic oversight across critical theaters for over a period of 2.5 years.
He has held several key staff and strategic appointments that have significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development.
An accomplished military professional, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education, securing top positions in courses of instruction. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and has also attended the prestigious Command & Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and understanding of contemporary military affairs.
