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Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth named next Army Chief, to take charge on June 30

Saturday, 13 June 2026· 5 min read·Source: The Economic Times

The Government of India on June 13, 2026 appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, currently the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), with effect from the afternoon of June 30, 2026. He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires the same day. Lt Gen Seth, an officer of the Armoured Corps, will be the first Army Chief from the Armoured Corps in about three decades, bringing experience in armoured warfare, counter-insurgency and military acquisitions to lead the Indian Army.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

1
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, currently Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will be the next Chief of Army Staff.
2
He takes charge from the afternoon of June 30, 2026.
3
He succeeds General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires the same day.
4
Seth will be the first COAS from the Armoured Corps in about three decades.
5
His decorations include PVSM, UYSM and AVSM.

Deep Dive

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The COAS heads the Indian Army, one of the three service chiefs alongside the Navy and Air Force chiefs.
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Seth's background spans armoured warfare, counter-insurgency operations and defence acquisitions/modernisation.
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The appointment is made by the central government (Appointments Committee of the Cabinet).

Exam Focus

Who was appointed the next Chief of Army Staff in June 2026, and whom does he succeed?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Appointments of service chiefs are top-frequency defence/appointments GA; exams test the incoming officer's name, the predecessor and the effective date.

Target Exams

SBI POSBI ClerkIBPS POIBPS ClerkIBPS RRB OfficerIBPS RRB AssistantRBI Grade BRBI AssistantNABARD Grade ASSC CGLSSC CHSLSSC CPORRB NTPCLIC AAONIACL AOUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is the professional head of the Indian Army and a four-star General. The Indian Army is the land-based branch of the armed forces; its other two services are the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, with a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) heading tri-service integration. The Armoured Corps is the Army's tank/mechanised arm. Senior appointments such as the COAS are decided by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Decorations like PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), UYSM (Uttam Yudh Seva Medal) and AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal) recognise distinguished service.