The government has appointed Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army, as the next Army Chief. He will assume charge on June 30 upon the retirement of the incumbent, Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM.Lt Gen Seth, an officer of the Armoured Corps, was commissioned in December 1986. It will be the first time in nearly three decades that an Armoured Corps officer has been appointed Army Chief. The last officer from the Armoured Corps to hold the post was Gen Shankar Roychowdhury, who retired in September 1997.Lt Gen Seth has extensive experience across operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation. He 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 21 Strike Corps, one of the Army’s premier strike formations.After his elevation to Army Commander, Lt Gen Seth headed both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands. In these roles, he provided strategic oversight across critical theatres for more than two-and-a-half years.He has also held several key staff and strategic appointments that have significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development.An accomplished military professional, Lt Gen Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education, securing top positions in various courses. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and has also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and deep understanding of contemporary military affairs.