New Delhi, June 13: The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume office from the afternoon of June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires on the same day.
An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. During a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades, he has held key operational, strategic, and capability-development appointments across the Indian Army.
His command assignments include leading an Armoured Regiment, an Armoured Brigade, a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir, and the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps. He has also commanded both the Southern Command and South Western Command, a rare distinction among senior Army officers.
Widely recognized for his role in force modernization and long-term capability development, Lt Gen Seth has contributed significantly to shaping the Army’s future force structure and technology-driven transformation.
A graduate of the Higher Command Course, the National Defence College, and the Command & Staff Course in Paris, he brings extensive operational and strategic experience to the Army’s highest post.
