NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff. He will assume office with effect from June 30, 2026. He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi who took over as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff in June 2024.Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is one of the Indian Army’s most experienced armoured corps officers, with nearly four decades of service. He was commissioned in to the Armoured Corps in December 1986 after graduating from the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He has held several key operational, command and strategic appointments.During his distinguished career, Lt Gen Seth has commanded formations ranging from an armoured regiment and brigade to a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also led the Sudarshan Chakra Corps and headed both the South Western and Southern Commands.