New Delhi, June 13: The Centre on Saturday appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume charge on June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who took over as the Army Chief in June 2024.
A highly decorated Armoured Corps officer, Lt Gen Seth brings nearly four decades of military experience to the top post. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1986 after graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla.
During his distinguished career, he has held several key operational, command and strategic appointments across the country. His command experience includes leading an armoured regiment, an armoured brigade, a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir, and the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps.
Lt Gen Seth has also served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, two of the Army’s most significant operational formations.
His appointment comes at a crucial time as the Indian Army continues to focus on modernization, operational preparedness and strengthening national security across diverse theatres.
