Watch | Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth will become the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), the second-highest rank in the Indian Army, from 1 April 2026 at Army Headquarters in New Delhi.
Current Position
Lt Gen Seth currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Southern Command, headquartered in Pune.
Southern Command is one of the Indian Army’s largest geographical commands responsible for military operations across peninsular India.
Army Leadership Reshuffle
The appointment is part of a major leadership reshuffle among senior three-star generals in the Indian Army.
Key changes include:
Lt Gen P. P. Singh, current VCOAS, will become Western Army Commander.
Lt Gen VMB Krishnan will take charge of the Eastern Command.
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain will become the new Southern Army Commander.
Previous Military Experience
Lt Gen Seth is an Armoured Corps officer commissioned in December 1986.
Before leading Southern Command in July 2024, he commanded the Mathura-based XXI Strike Corps, one of the Indian Army’s major strike formations.
Key Points for Defence Exams
Officer: Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth
New Post: Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS)
Effective Date: 1 April 2026
Current Role: GOC-in-C, Southern Command
Predecessor Moving To: Western Army Command (Lt Gen P. P. Singh)
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