Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), bringing with him nearly four decades of military service spanning operational command, strategic planning, and capability development.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Over the course of his career, he has built a formidable operational profile, with extensive experience across varied terrains and conflict environments, including counter-insurgency operations.
His command assignments reflect both depth and diversity. He has led an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector, commanded an Armoured Brigade in a developed theatre, and headed a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir. Rising through the ranks, he went on to command the Sudarshan Chakra Corps as a Lieutenant General.
Subsequently, as General Officer Commanding (GOC) Delhi Area, he was responsible for overseeing critical national and international engagements in the capital.
On elevation to Army Commander rank, Lt Gen Seth achieved the rare distinction of leading two major operational commands—South Western Command and Southern Command—both strategically vital formations along the Western Front. His tenure in these roles has been marked by a strong emphasis on operational preparedness and integrated force capability.
Beyond field command, Lt Gen Seth has held several key staff and strategic appointments that have shaped institutional planning and operational doctrine. These include his roles as Brigade Major of an Independent Armoured Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir, Operations Officer with the United Nations Mission in Angola, Assistant Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Staff (Operations) at Headquarters South Western Command, and Director General Discipline, Ceremonial and Welfare.
A notable aspect of his career has been his sustained contribution to force modernisation and long-term capability development. He has served in critical positions within the Army’s Strategic Planning and Capability Development architecture, including as Colonel Capability Development for Mechanised Forces, Brigadier Perspective Plans and Acquisition, and Additional Director General Capability Development. In these roles, he played a pivotal part in shaping the Indian Army’s Long-Term Integrated Perspective Plan and broader modernisation roadmap.
Academically, Lt Gen Seth has consistently distinguished himself. He stood first in the Junior Command Course and was awarded the Best All Round Student Officer Medal at the Defence Services Staff College. He is also a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the prestigious National Defence College, and has attended the Command and Staff Course in Paris.
With his appointment as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth steps into a role central to the Army’s operational readiness, organisational transformation, and modernisation trajectory—at a time when the force continues to navigate evolving security challenges and technological shifts.
