**Executive Summary**
General Dhiraj Seth took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on 30 June 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi following his superannuation. The transition marks a leadership change in the Indian Army, bringing in an officer with nearly four decades of experience in the Armoured Corps and strategic planning. The document highlights the General's extensive command history and his pivotal role in force modernisation and capability development.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Appointment and Background**
* General Dhiraj Seth assumed the office of the 31st COAS on 30 June 2026.
* He succeeded General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after more than 40 years of service.
* Commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986, General Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy.
**Command Experience**
* Commanded an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector and an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre.
* Led a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir.
* Served as the Lieutenant General of the Sudarshan Chakra Corps.
* Acted as the General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing national and international engagements.
* Held the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands: South Western Command and Southern Command.
**Strategic and Modernisation Roles**
* Tenanted key appointments in the Strategic Planning and Capability Development verticals of the Army Headquarters.
* Instrumental in shaping the Army’s modernisation trajectory and long-term force structuring.
* Focused on aligning operational requirements with future battlefield imperatives and emerging technologies.
**Educational Qualifications**
* Top-ranking professional in military education, having completed the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College.
* Attended the Command & Staff Course in Paris, providing a broad international strategic outlook.
**Impact Analysis**
**General Dhiraj Seth**
**Impact**
He has been elevated to the highest rank in the Indian Army as the 31st COAS.
**Action Required**
He must provide strategic oversight, lead force modernisation initiatives, and manage the Indian Army's combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
**General Upendra Dwivedi**
**Impact**
Superannuated from his position as COAS on 30 June 2026 after four decades of service.
**Action Required**
Hand over the command of the Army Staff to General Dhiraj Seth.
**Indian Army / Ministry of Defence**
**Impact**
The organisation undergoes a leadership transition at the highest level, ensuring continuity in strategic planning and capability development.
**Action Required**
Support the new COAS in implementing force modernisation, capability roadmaps, and aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies.
Key Entities Referenced
General Dhiraj Seth: The 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, who assumed leadership on June 30, 2026.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): The professional head and highest-ranking officer of the Indian Army; the position transitioned from General Upendra Dwivedi to General Dhiraj Seth.
Indian Army: The primary land-based branch of the Indian Armed Forces, currently undergoing long-term transformation and force modernization under its new leadership.
General Upendra Dwivedi: The outgoing Chief of the Army Staff who superannuated on June 30, 2026, after more than four decades of military service.
Ministry of Defence
GENERAL DHIRAJ SETH TAKES OVER AS THE
CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF
प्रव तथ: 30 JUN 2026 2:37PM by PIB Delhi
General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) from
General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, who superannuated after more than four decades of
distinguished service to the nation on 30 Jun 2026.
General Dhiraj Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and was
commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over a distinguished military career spanning
nearly four decades, he has had extensive experience across the operational, strategic, capability
development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army's combat
effectiveness and long-term transformation.
The General Officer has commanded at every level in diverse operational environments. His command
assignments include an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western
Theatre, and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded
the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Indian Army's premier strike formations. He subsequently served
as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing key national and international military
engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
On elevation to the rank of Army Commander, the officer commanded South Western Command and
Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands and
providing strategic oversight across critical theatres for over a period of two and half years. He has held
several key staff and strategic appointments that have significantly influenced operational planning, force
management and capability development.
Widely recognised for his contributions to force modernisation, the General Officer has tenanted pivotal
appointments in the Strategic Planning and Capability Development verticals of the Army Headquarters,
shaping its modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap and long-term force structuring initiatives. His
contributions have been instrumental in aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies and
future battlefield imperatives.
An accomplished military professional, General Dhiraj Seth has consistently excelled in professional
military education, securing top positions in courses of instruction. He is a graduate of the Higher
Command Course and the National Defence College and has also attended the prestigious Command &
Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and understanding of contemporary military
affairs.***
Nishant Arvind / Pradeep Kumar
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2279326) आगंतुक पटल : 1532
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