Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth Appointed Next Chief of Army Staff, to Take Charge on June 30

The Government has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) , effective June 30, 2026 (afternoon) . He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM , who retires from service on the same day, marking a formal transition in the leadership of the Indian Army.

Lt Gen Seth is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and is set to assume charge as the senior-most officer of the Indian Army after completion of the incumbent’s tenure. His appointment reflects the established military leadership succession process , which is governed by the Government of India through the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) , based on recommendations from the Ministry of Defence and seniority-cum-merit considerations among eligible four-star and Lieutenant General-level officers.

The succession process also takes into account the officer’s command experience, operational exposure, staff appointments, and contribution to force modernisation and strategic planning . Lt Gen Seth’s extensive service record, including command of key formations and Army Commands, placed him among the leading contenders for the top post.

A seasoned Armoured Corps officer commissioned in 1986, he has held critical operational roles across Jammu & Kashmir, the Western Theatre, and strategic strike formations, in addition to serving in key institutional and capability development assignments at Army Headquarters.

His elevation ensures continuity in leadership at a time when the Army is focused on modernisation, technology integration, and multi-domain operational readiness . The transition underscores the Indian Army’s structured and institutionalised approach to top-level command succession.