Lt. Gen. Dheeraj Seth has been appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff and will assume office from June 30, the government said in a press release on Saturday.
Lt. Gen. Seth, who is currently Deputy Chief of Army Staff, will succeed Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, who will retire from service on June 30. With a career spanning four decades, Lt. Gen. Seth has the rare privilege of leading two Army operational commands.
“I have been directed to convey the President’s approval for the appointment of Lt. Gen. Dheeraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM as the next Chief of Army Staff, with the rank of General, effective June 30, 2026, as deputy to Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, for a term up to August 31, 2028,” a Defense Ministry statement said.
A graduate of NDA Khadakwasla, he has experience in strategic and operational areas
Lt. Gen. Seth is a graduate of the National Defense Academy in Khadakwasla and was commissioned into the Armored Corps in December 1986, according to a government statement. When he was promoted to Army Chief, he assumed command of Southwest Command and Southern Command in a rare accomplishment, providing strategic oversight across critical theaters for more than two and a half years.
Lt. Gen. Seth has commanded at all levels in diverse operational environments, serving in an Armored Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armored Brigade in the Western Theater of Operations, and the Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He also commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the major strike formations of the Indian Army.
During his career spanning more than forty years, Lt. Seth has experience in various fields, in operational, strategic, capacity development and institutional aspects. According to the government statement, the officer has “contributed significantly to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation”.
Lt. Gen. Seth also served as Commander-in-Chief, Delhi District, where he oversaw major national and international military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
Contributing to the modernization of forces and training in Paris
Aside from making several key staff and strategic appointments, Lt. Gen. Seth is also widely known for his contributions in enforcing modernization, according to the statement. During his appointments, the team succeeded in “significantly” influencing operational planning, force management, and force development.
“The general officer has secured pivotal appointments in the strategic planning and capability development sectors of the Army Headquarters, shaping the Army’s modernization pathway, capabilities roadmap and long-term force structuring initiatives,” the PIB’s defense wing said in the statement. He has contributed to aligning emerging technology with the Army’s operational requirements, keeping in mind future battlefield imperatives.
Aside from his operational prowess, Lt. Gen. Seth also excelled in professional military education, attaining senior positions in educational courses. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defense College, and also attended the Command and Staff Course in Paris.
