, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi){kind=link}
General Dhiraj Seth succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff, bringing nearly four decades of military experience to the role.
July 1, 2026: General Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after more than four decades of service. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Before taking over as Army Chief, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
Gen Seth takes command of the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army at a time when the force is focusing on modernisation, self-reliance and strengthening operational preparedness amid evolving security challenges. During his distinguished military career spanning nearly 40 years, he has commanded at every level, including an Armoured Regiment, an Armoured Brigade, a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Sudarshan Chakra Corps. He also earned the rare distinction of leading both the South Western Command and the Southern Command along the western front.
Throughout his career, Gen Seth has played a key role in operational planning, force development and the Army’s modernisation efforts. He has held several strategic appointments at Army Headquarters, helping shape capability development and long-term force restructuring initiatives. A graduate of the Higher Command Course, the National Defence College and the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, Gen Seth is widely recognised for his expertise in military strategy, leadership and future battlefield preparedness.