New Delhi: General Dhiraj Seth, an accomplished military officer with the rare distinction of commanding two Army operational commands along the Western Front, took charge as the new Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday, officials said.
General Seth takes the reins of the 1.3 million-strong force as it charts a path to becoming a self-reliant, future-ready Army as it confronts challenges on the border.
The officer was succeeded by General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired on Tuesday after an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years in the armed forces.
General Seth is an alumnus of the National Defense Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Armored Corps in December 1986.
Before becoming the 31st Chief of Staff of the Army (COAS), he served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army.
General Seth assumed the position of Chief of Air Operations at a time when the global geostrategic environment remains dynamic, with challenges in the security domain becoming more apparent due to technological advances and the ever-changing character of modern warfare.
Upon his promotion to the rank of Army Chief, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the South Western Command (headquartered in Jaipur) and the Southern Command, and was given the rare distinction of leading two operational commands along the Western Front, the Defense Ministry said earlier.
During his military career spanning nearly four decades, he had extensive experience in operational, strategic, capability development and institutional areas, contributing significantly to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
Through earlier appointments to pivotal positions in the strategic planning and capability development sectors at Army Headquarters, he shaped the modernization path, capabilities roadmap and long-term force structuring initiatives.
Before his appointment as Deputy Chief of Army Staff on April 1, he was heading the Southern Command in Pune. Under his leadership, the elite command maintained a high degree of operational readiness during Operation Sindoor last year.
In nearly four decades, he has built an exceptional operational portfolio across diverse conflict terrains and environments, including counterinsurgency experience.
The general officer assumes command at all levels in a variety of operational environments.
His command assignments included an armored regiment in the Desert Sector, an armored brigade in the Western Theater, and a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir.
As a lieutenant general, he commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the major strike formations of the army. He subsequently served as Commander-in-Chief of the Delhi District, where he oversaw major national and international military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
He held several key staff and strategic appointments that “significantly impacted operational planning, force management, and capability development.”
Gen. Seth’s contributions were instrumental in aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies and future battlefield imperatives, according to the Department of Defense.
He said General Seth, an accomplished military professional, has consistently excelled in professional military education and attained senior positions in educational courses.
General Seth, who graduated from the Higher Command Course and the National Defense College, also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and understanding of contemporary military affairs, the Ministry of Defense said.
