New Delhi: General Dhiraj Seth today assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), 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 (NDA), Khadakwasla, General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over a military career spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a wide range of operational, strategic, capability development and institutional roles, contributing to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
According to an official release, General Seth has commanded military formations at every level across diverse operational environments. His field commands 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 Indian Army’s premier strike formations, before serving as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area, where he oversaw key national and international military engagements as well as ceremonial responsibilities.
After being elevated to the rank of Army Commander, General Seth headed both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, becoming one of the few officers to command two operational Army Commands. During his tenure of over two-and-a-half years in these appointments, he provided strategic oversight across critical operational theatres.
The Ministry of Defence said General Seth has also held several important staff and strategic assignments that significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development within the Army.
Widely recognised for his role in force modernisation, he has served in key positions in the Strategic Planning and Capability Development verticals at Army Headquarters. His contributions have helped shape the Army’s modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap and long-term force structuring initiatives by aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies and future battlefield imperatives.
General Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education throughout his career. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and has also attended the Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and understanding of contemporary military affairs.
