Who Is General Dhiraj Seth? Meet India’s New Army Chief, His Military Career, VIJAY Vision and Key Responsibilities
General Dhiraj Seth took charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army on June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi. A veteran officer of the Armoured Corps with nearly four decades of military service, General Seth has held several key operational and command positions, including leading the Southern Command and South Western Command. His appointment comes at a time when the Indian Army is placing increasing emphasis on modernisation, jointness, indigenous defence capabilities and technology-driven warfare.General Dhiraj Seth is now at the helm of the Indian Army, taking over one of the country’s most important military responsibilities. Before becoming Army Chief, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and had commanded two major Army commands during his career.His elevation to the top Army post also carries particular significance for the Armoured Corps. General Seth is the first Armoured Corps officer to become Chief of the Army Staff since General Shankar Roy Chowdhary, who retired in 1997.General Dhiraj Seth Takes Charge as 31st Army ChiefGeneral Seth formally assumed command of the Indian Army on June 30, 2026, after General Upendra Dwivedi completed his tenure and superannuated after more than four decades of service.The Ministry of Defence had announced General Seth’s appointment on June 13, stating that he would take over from General Dwivedi from June 30. At the time of his appointment, Seth was serving as Lieutenant General and Vice Chief of the Army Staff.His elevation followed a rapid succession of senior appointments. He became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command in July 2024, moved to the post of Vice Chief of the Army Staff in April 2026 and became Army Chief less than three months later.The progression reflects the breadth of his experience across operational commands, Army Headquarters and higher military leadership.Who Is General Dhiraj Seth?General Dhiraj Seth is a career Army officer who was commissioned into the Armoured Corps on December 20, 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.During his career, he also attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, the Army War College in Mhow and the National Defence College in New Delhi. His professional military education extended overseas as well, including the General Staff Course at France’s Collège interarmées de Défense and an International Defense Acquisition Management Course at the US Naval Postgraduate School.His academic and professional training is significant because much of his later career involved areas beyond conventional battlefield command, including strategic planning, weapons and equipment, capability development and modernisation.At the Defence Services Staff College, he was reportedly adjudged the best all-round student of his course in 2006. He also earned the ‘Silver Centurion’ during the Young Officers Course and stood first in the order of merit in several courses during his career.General Dhiraj Seth’s Military CareerGeneral Seth’s military career spans nearly four decades and includes experience in armoured warfare, counter-insurgency operations, command responsibilities and strategic planning.After being commissioned into the 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse), he served in a variety of regimental, brigade and staff appointments.One of his important operational assignments came in Jammu and Kashmir, where he commanded a Counter-Insurgency Force. He later commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army’s major strike formations.His command experience also includes an armoured regiment in the desert sector and an armoured brigade in the western theatre.These appointments gave him experience across different operational environments, ranging from armoured formations and conventional military preparedness to counter-insurgency operations.He Also Served With the United NationsAn aspect of General Seth’s career that receives comparatively less attention is his international military experience.He served as an operations officer with the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III (UNAVEM III) between 1995 and 1996. The mission was part of the UN’s efforts in Angola during the country’s transition towards peace following years of civil conflict.His UN assignment came relatively early in his military career and added an international dimension to his operational experience.Command of South Western and Southern CommandsGeneral Seth went on to lead two major Army commands that have strategic importance because of their locations and operational responsibilities.On November 1, 2023, he took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Command, succeeding Lieutenant General B. S. Raju.On July 1, 2024, he took charge of the Southern Command, succeeding Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh. He remained in command until March 31, 2026.His tenure in senior command positions meant that by the time he became Vice Chief, General Seth had already gained experience overseeing large formations and dealing with operational preparedness at the command level.The Ministry of Defence had also identified him in official communications as Southern Army Commander during his tenure. In October 2025, for example, he attended a military event in Bhuj alongside Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and then Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.From Vice Chief to Army ChiefGeneral Dhiraj Seth became Vice Chief of the Army Staff on April 1, 2026, succeeding Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh.The Vice Chief is one of the most senior positions within Army Headquarters and is involved in the functioning, planning and administration of the force.His tenure as Vice Chief was brief. On June 13, the government announced that he would become the next Chief of the Army Staff, and he formally assumed command on June 30.This means General Seth moved from Vice Chief to Army Chief in less than three months.General Dhiraj Seth’s ‘VIJAY’ Vision for the Indian ArmyOne of the most important aspects of General Seth’s first days as Army Chief has been his emphasis on transforming the Army into a technology-enabled and future-ready force.After assuming office, he outlined his vision around the acronym ‘VIJAY’, which he said would provide a foundation for the Army’s future direction.The five elements of VIJAY are:V: VigilanceI: Innovation and TransformationJ: Jointness and IntegrationA: AtmanirbhartaY: Yodha FirstThe framework reflects the changing nature of military operations and the growing importance of technology, integration and indigenous defence capabilities.General Seth has stressed that the Army must adapt to