General Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after serving more than four decades in the Indian Army.
Before his appointment as Army chief, General Seth served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. General Seth is widely regarded as one of the Army's most experienced operational commanders. He holds the rare distinction of having led two major operational commands along India's western frontier.
After being promoted to the rank of Army Commander, he first headed the South Western Command, headquartered in Jaipur, before taking charge of the Pune-based Southern Command.
According to the Ministry of Defence, his leadership across both commands reflects his extensive operational experience and strategic expertise along one of India's most critical military theatres.
Commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986 after graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, General Seth has served in the Army for nearly four decades.
Throughout his military career, he has held command at every operational level across a wide range of terrains, including deserts, conventional battle zones and counter-insurgency environments.
His command assignments have included an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector, an Armoured Brigade in the western theatre, a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir, and the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army's principal strike formations.
He also served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Delhi Area, where he was responsible for overseeing key national and international military engagements, in addition to ceremonial responsibilities in the national capital.
Apart from field commands, General Seth has occupied several senior positions at Army Headquarters, where he played a significant role in strategic planning, force restructuring and capability development.
The Defence Ministry said his contributions have been instrumental in shaping the Army's long-term modernisation roadmap, integrating emerging technologies and preparing the force for future battlefield requirements.
Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff on April 1, General Seth led the Southern Command, which maintained a high level of operational preparedness during Operation Sindoor last year.
An accomplished military professional, General Seth has consistently excelled in military education throughout his career. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College and has also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, further strengthening his expertise in strategic and contemporary military affairs.
