Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will officially assume office on the afternoon of June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who is set to retire the same day.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. His military career spans nearly four decades, during which he has held several key operational, strategic, and capability development roles within the Indian Army.
Throughout his service, Lt Gen Seth has commanded formations at every level across diverse operational environments. His command assignments include leading 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 also commanded the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps.
He later served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Delhi Area, overseeing major national and international military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities. Following his promotion as Army Commander, he led the South Western Command before taking charge of the Southern Command, a rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands.
With more than two-and-a-half years of strategic oversight in critical theatres, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth is widely regarded as an experienced military leader who has played a significant role in strengthening the Indian Army's combat preparedness and long-term transformation.
