Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth has appointed the next Army Chief

Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, is expected to take over as the next Chief of Army Staff with effect from 30 June 2026. Credit: X/@SpokespersonMoD

The government has appointed Lt. Gen. Dhiraj Seth, currently serving as Deputy Chief of Army Staff, as the next Chief of Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of 30 June 2026.

The current Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi retires from service on the same day.

Lt Gen Seth took charge as Deputy Chief of Army Staff on 1 April 2026 in a series of senior appointments announced by the Indian Army across key operational headquarters.

A graduate of the National Defense Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Lieutenant General Seth was commissioned into the Armored Corps in December 1986. During a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades, he served in various operational environments, including extensive counter-insurgency assignments.

The officer commanded an armored regiment in the desert sector, an armored brigade and counter-insurgency forces in Jammu and Kashmir. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps and later served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) in the Delhi region.

After being promoted to Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Seth commanded both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, becoming one of the few officers to command two major operational commands. During his tenure, he oversaw critical operational responsibilities on India’s Western Front.

With extensive experience in conventional operations, counter-insurgency and strategic leadership, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth is poised to take over the reins of the Indian Army at a time of evolving regional security challenges and ongoing force modernization efforts.

Published – 13 June 2026 15:53 ​​IST