General Dhiraj Seth assumes charge as 31st Chief of Army Staff, succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi

General Dhiraj Seth assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on Tuesday (June 30, 2026), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after more than four decades of distinguished service in the Indian Army.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. During a military career spanning nearly four decades, he has held several key operational, strategic and staff appointments, playing an important role in enhancing the Indian Army’s operational readiness and long-term modernisation.

General Seth has commanded military formations at every level across diverse operational environments. His command assignments include 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, before serving as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area.

Following his promotion as Army Commander, General Seth led both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, becoming one of the few senior officers to command two operational Army Commands. In these assignments, he provided strategic oversight across key operational theatres for more than two-and-a-half years.

At Army Headquarters, General Seth held several important appointments in strategic planning and capability development, where he played a significant role in shaping the Army’s modernisation roadmap, force structure and integration of emerging technologies to meet future battlefield challenges.

A distinguished military professional, General Seth is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College. He has also attended the prestigious Command & Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his extensive exposure to contemporary military strategy and leadership.

General Seth is the recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), among other distinguished service awards.