India Appoints General Dhiraj Seth as 31st Army Chief

Darwin, 01 July : General Dhiraj Seth has taken charge as the new Chief of the Indian Army. He was appointed to the post on Tuesday, becoming the 31st Chief of the Indian Army and succeeding his predecessor, General Upendra Dwivedi.

A former student of the Khadakwasla National Defence Academy in Maharashtra, Dhiraj Seth joined the Indian Army in 1986. During his nearly four-decade-long military career, he has served in operational, strategic, capability development, and institutional roles. He has played an important role in enhancing the Indian Army’s combat readiness and contributing to its long-term transformation.

General Dhiraj Seth has extensive experience in leading forces across diverse operational environments. During his 40-year military career, some of his notable assignments include commanding an armoured regiment in the deserts of northern India, leading an armoured brigade under the Indian Army’s Western Command, and serving as the top commander of a counter-terrorism force in Jammu and Kashmir. Within the military, he is also known as the “straight-talking tankman.”

While General Upendra Dwivedi was serving as Army Chief, General Seth had commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, the Indian Army’s primary strike formation, as Deputy Chief of Army Staff.

General Seth will lead the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army at a time when the global geopolitical landscape is undergoing major changes. Advances in technology are transforming the nature of warfare and creating new challenges.

Major changes have also taken place in the Indian Air Force from July 1. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has taken over as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff, replacing Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor. Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He will oversee key areas including military operations, planning, and the enhancement of defence capabilities.

Changes have also been made at the Army command level. Lieutenant General Mohit Malhotra has been appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief of the South Western Command. Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar will take charge of the Southern Command. Lieutenant General Madanraj Pandey has assumed command of the Leh-based “Fire and Fury Corps,” replacing Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla.

Source: The Hindu

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