31st Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army

• On June 30, 2026, General Dheeraj Seth assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army.

• He succeeded General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired after completing nearly 40 years of military service.

• General Dheeraj Seth’s tenure will extend until August 31, 2028. His appointment is viewed as a significant transition in the leadership of the Indian Army.

• Notably, he is the first Chief of the Army Staff to hail from the Armoured Corps since General Shankar Roychowdhury in 1997.

• General Dheeraj Seth underwent military training at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, and was commissioned into the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army in December 1986.

• Throughout his military career spanning nearly four decades, he successfully discharged various key command, staff, and administrative responsibilities.

• On April 1, 2026, he was appointed as the 49th Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

• Subsequently, on June 30, 2026, he took charge as the Chief of the Army Staff, one of the country's highest military positions.

• His extensive operational experience, effective leadership, and strategic vision raise expectations that he will play a pivotal role in the modernization of the Indian Army and in addressing future security challenges.