Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth appointed next Indian Army Chief
NEW DELHI, June 13, 2026 :- The Indian government has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff. Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, he will take charge on the afternoon of June 30, 2026.
He succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires from service on the same day.An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Dhiraj Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986.
Throughout a military career spanning nearly forty years, he has gained extensive experience across strategic, operational, capability development, and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the combat readiness and transformation of the Indian Army.
The general officer has held commands at every level across diverse operational terrains. His command leadership includes 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 strike formation of the Sudarshan Chakra Corps and later served as the General Officer Commanding for the Delhi Area, where he oversaw major national, international, and ceremonial responsibilities.
Upon his elevation to Army Commander, he commanded both the South Western Command and the Southern Command. This provided him the rare distinction of leading two operational commands and managing strategic oversight across critical theaters for over two and a half years.
He has also held multiple key staff and strategic appointments that heavily influenced force management and operational planning.Dhiraj Seth is widely recognized for his contributions to force modernization. He has held pivotal roles in the Strategic Planning and Capability Development verticals at the Army Headquarters, helping shape the long-term force structuring, modernization path, and technological alignment of the military for future battlefield requirements.
He is highly accomplished in professional military education, frequently securing top positions in advanced training courses. He graduated from the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, further broadening his strategic outlook on contemporary military affairs.