Watch | General Dhiraj Seth assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on 30 June 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after more than four decades of military service.
Military Career and Commission
General Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986 and has served in operational, strategic, capability development and institutional appointments during nearly four decades of service.
Key Command Appointments
During his military career, General Seth commanded an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector, an Armoured Brigade in the western theatre and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He also headed two operational Army Commands on the western front before becoming Army Chief.
Historic Appointment for the Armoured Corps
General Dhiraj Seth became the first officer from the Armoured Corps to serve as Chief of the Army Staff since General Shankar Roy Chowdhary, who completed his tenure in 1997. This marks the return of an Armoured Corps officer to the Army's highest post after nearly three decades.
Strategic Significance
General Seth assumed command at a time when the Indian Army is pursuing modernisation, force restructuring, self-reliance in defence capability, and preparedness for evolving technology-driven warfare.
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