Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff, taking over from General Upendra Dwivedi on June 30, 2026. With a career spanning four decades, Lt Gen Seth has led two operational Army Commands and has been a key figure in shaping the military modernisation of the Indian Army.
As the current Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Seth has been awarded several prestigious medals, including the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and has commanded at every level in diverse operational environments, including the desert sector, Western Theatre, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Lt Gen Seth has also served as General Officer Commanding of Delhi Area and has been widely recognised for his contributions to force modernisation. He has shaped the Army's modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap, and long-term force structuring initiatives, and has contributed to the alignment of emerging technology with the Army's operational requirements.
