Gen Dhiraj Seth takes charge as new Army Chief
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to be next Vice Chief of IAF
New Delhi: General Dhiraj Seth, an accomplished military officer with the rare distinction of heading two operational Army commands along the western front, took charge as the new Chief of the Army Staff on Tuesday, officials said.
Gen Seth assumed the reins of the 1.3 million-strong force at a time when it is forging a path to become a self-reliant and future-ready Army while meeting challenges on the borders.
The general officer succeeded General Upendra Dwivedi, who retired on Tuesday after an illustrious career spanning over 40 years in the armed forces.
Gen Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986.
Prior to becoming the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
Gen Seth took over as the COAS at a time when the global geo-strategic environment remains dynamic, with challenges in the security domain becoming more pronounced due to technological advancements and the ever-changing character of modern warfare.
On his elevation to the rank of an Army Commander, he served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Command (based in Jaipur) and the Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational commands along the western front, the defence ministry earlier said.
During his military career spanning nearly four decades, he has had extensive experience across operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
Tenanting pivotal appointments earlier in strategic planning and capability development verticals of the Army Headquarters, he shaped its modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap and long-term force structuring initiatives.
Prior to his appointment as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on April 1, he headed the Pune-based Southern Command, and under his leadership, the elite command maintained a high degree of operational readiness during the Operation Sindoor last year.
In nearly four decades, he built an exceptional operational profile across diverse terrains and conflict environments, including counter-insurgency experience.
The general officer has commanded at every level in diverse operational environments.
His command assignments included an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre, and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir.
As a lieutenant general, he commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army’s premier strike formations. He subsequently served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing key national and international military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.
He has held several key staff and strategic appointments that have “significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development”.
Gen Seth’s contributions have been instrumental in aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies and future battlefield imperatives, according to the defence ministry.
An accomplished military professional, Gen Seth consistently excelled in professional military education, securing top positions in courses of instruction it said.
A graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, Gen Seth also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and understanding of contemporary military affairs, the defence ministry said.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a senior military officer with over 3,300 hours of flying experience, is set to be the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS).
He will take charge on July 1, succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, an official said on Tuesday.
Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1986. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Defence Services Staff College (Bangladesh) and National Defence College, New Delhi, the defence ministry earlier said.
The air force officer is a “Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot with over 3,300 hours of flying experience on over 20 types of aircraft, including Mirage-2000, MiG-21 & Jaguar,” the ministry said.
Before being appointed as VCAS, he was serving as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS). He assumed the appointment in May 2025.
Air Marshal Dixit has also commanded a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector, where his leadership led to the base being adjudged the best in the Command.
“His tenure at #HQ_IDS was defined by landmark contributions that have reshaped the contours of integrated defence playing a pivotal role in #OperationSindoor, a defining moment in India’s #NationalSecurity calculus; steering the release of 20 Joint Doctrines and Primers that institutionalised #TriServices thought; conceptualising #RanSamwad 2025 & 2026, an unprecedented Military Dialogue platform; orchestrating the Combined and Joint Commanders Conferences #CCC 2025 & 2026; and anchoring the formulation of Defence Forces Vision 2047 – a transformative roadmap for a technology-driven, integrated and future-ready military,” the HQ IDS posted on X.
Outgoing VCAS Air Marshal Kapoor, who assumed the appointment on January 1, was accorded a guard of honour as part of a ceremonial farewell held on the premises of the Vayu Bhawan here.
He later also visited the National War Memorial where he laid a wreath to honour the country’s bravehearts.
Air Marshal Kapoor graduated from the National Defence Academy in December 1985 and was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in the fighter stream of the Flying Branch on December 6, 1986.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh is set to be the next CISC, according to officials.
