New Delhi, June 13: The central government has appointed Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth, the Vice Chief of the Indian Army, as the next Army Chief. He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi, who is set to retire at the end of June.
Lieutenant General Seth, an officer from the Armored Corps, will be the first officer to take command of the army from the Combat Branch since General Shankar Roychowdhury in 1997.
Over nearly four decades of military service, he has gained extensive operational, strategic, and organizational experience through significant command, staff, and capability development roles. His tenure is expected to last until August 2028, commencing at a crucial time when the army is focusing on modernization, an integrated theater command structure, and enhanced operational readiness along the China-Pakistan borders.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Lieutenant General Seth joined the Armored Corps in December 1986. Throughout his illustrious career, he has held various operational, strategic, and institutional roles, playing a vital part in enhancing the combat capabilities of the Indian Army and facilitating long-term changes.
His responsibilities have included commanding armored regiments in desert terrains, leading an armored brigade in the western theater, and heading anti-terrorism forces in Jammu and Kashmir. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded one of the Indian Army’s premier strike formations, the Sudarshan Chakra Corps.
Later, he served as the General Officer Commanding of the Delhi Area, overseeing significant military activities, formal duties, and coordination for national and international events in the capital.
After his promotion to Army Commander, Lieutenant General Seth led both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, becoming one of the few officers to command two operational army commands. During his tenure of over two and a half years in these roles, he provided strategic oversight in some of the country’s most critical military theaters.
In addition to field command, Lieutenant General Seth has served in several key staff and strategic positions that have shaped operational planning, force management, and capability development within the army.
He has held significant roles in the strategic planning and capability development branches at Army Headquarters, contributing to the roadmap for army modernization, plans for capability enhancement, and long-term force restructuring initiatives.
His work has been crucial in aligning operational needs with emerging technologies and the evolving demands of future warfare. A skilled military officer, Lieutenant General Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education. He has completed the ‘Higher Command Course’ and the ‘National Defence College’, as well as the prestigious ‘Command and Staff Course’ in Paris, reflecting his comprehensive strategic thinking and deep understanding of contemporary military affairs.
Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth is poised to lead the Indian Army through significant transformations and new security challenges. He has been honored with the ‘Param Vishisht Seva Medal’ and other awards for his contributions to national security.
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