General Dhiraj Seth officially took charge as the Indian Army Chief on Tuesday, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after an illustrious career spanning over 40 years in the armed forces.
General Seth is an accomplished military officer with the rare distinction of heading two operational Army commands along the western front. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Prior to becoming the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
He served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Command (based in Jaipur) and the Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational commands along the western front.
During his military career spanning nearly four decades, General Seth has had extensive experience across operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army's combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
Tenanting pivotal appointments earlier in strategic planning and capability development verticals of the Army Headquarters, he shaped its modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap and long-term force structuring initiatives.
Prior to his appointment as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on April 1, he headed the Pune-based Southern Command, and under his leadership, the elite command maintained a high degree of operational readiness during Operation Sindoor last year. In nearly four decades, he built an exceptional operational profile across diverse terrains and conflict environments, including counter-insurgency experience. The general officer has commanded at every level in diverse operational environments.
His command assignments included 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 commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army's premier strike formations. He subsequently served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing key national and international military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
He has held several key staff and strategic appointments that have "significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development". General Seth’s contributions have been instrumental in aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies and future battlefield imperatives, according to the defence ministry.
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