Dhiraj Seth, who led Sindoor operation, appointed as India's new army chief

The Indian government announced on Saturday that Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth will assume charge as the Chief of the Indian Army Staff on June 30, after the retirement of General Upendra Dwivedi, reported Indian media.

“I am directed to convey the approval of the President to the appointment of Lt General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM as the next Chief of the Army Staff in the substantive rank of General, with effect from 30 (th) June, 2026 vice General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, with a tenure upto 31st August, 2028," read a letter from the Ministry of Defence.

Lt Gen Seth is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and has held key staff and strategic appointments. He will assume charge after General Upendra Dwivedi retires on June 30.

Lt Gen Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and an Armoured Corps officer, who was commissioned in the force in 1986. He has nearly four decades of distinguished service, marked by extensive command, staff and strategic appointments across diverse operational and institutional domains.

The officer has attended the Defence Services Command and General Staff Course at Military College, Paris, France, International Defence Acquisition Management Course at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, California, USA, Higher Command Course at Mhow, and the National Defence College at New Delhi.

He has commanded an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector, an Armoured Brigade in the developed sector, and a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He also commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps and later served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, where he oversaw major national and international engagements.

Lt Gen Seth also led the Pune-headquartered Southern Command during Operation Sindoor last year and subsequently oversaw key tri-services exercises conducted along the Western Border.

He has also held key staff and strategic appointments, including Brigade Major of an Independent Armoured Brigade in Occupied Kashmir, Operations Officer with the United Nations Mission in Angola, Assistant Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Staff Operations at Headquarters South Western Command, and Director General Discipline, Ceremonial and Welfare.