General Dhiraj Seth assumes charge as 31st Army chief, unveils ‘VIJAY’ vision for a technology-driven future force

General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi. He outlined an ambitious roadmap to transform the Indian Army into a technology-enabled, future-ready force through a strategic vision centred on the acronym “VIJAY.”

Addressing officers after assuming office, General Seth described it as a matter of “pride and humility” to lead the Indian Army and reaffirmed his commitment to the ideals of “Duty, Honour, and Nation First.”

“It is a matter of pride and humility for me to assume the office of the 31st Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army today. I accept this responsibility with an unwavering commitment to the ideals of ‘Duty, Honour, and Nation First’. I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister for placing their trust in me and entrusting me with the honour and responsibility of leading the Indian Army. I also pay my humble tribute to those brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation; their courage, devotion to duty, and selfless dedication will continue to inspire future generations,” the Army Chief said.

General Seth said the guiding principle of “VIJAY,” articulated for the armed forces by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would serve as the foundation of the Army’s future direction.

“I believe that the guiding principle articulated by the Prime Minister for the armed forces, encapsulated in the acronym ‘VIJAY’, forms the very foundation of our success and will unfailingly lead us to victory. It is a privilege for me to champion this vision. ‘Jai’ leads to ‘Vijay’; Jai Hind and Jai Bharat,” he said.

Explaining his priorities, General Seth said the Army would continue to adapt to an evolving security environment by accelerating modernisation, technological integration and operational preparedness.

“…To tackle the challenges of this evolving security environment, we must advance the modernisation of the Army with renewed vigour and firm resolve. Our objective is to build a technology-enabled, future-ready Army that is empowered in every respect and capable of operating across multiple domains. Keeping these objectives in mind and drawing inspiration from the guidance provided by the Defence Minister under the ‘Decade of Transformation’, I have identified my key focus areas. I have consolidated them into an acronym: ‘VIJAY’, he said.

“Each letter of ‘VIJAY’ represents one of my priorities, and I will briefly outline them. The first letter is ‘V’ – for Vigilance and Readiness. We will maintain constant vigilance regarding our borders and emerging threats, and uphold a high level of operational readiness to effectively counter any challenge to national security. ‘I’ stands for Innovation and Transformation; my focus will be on both doctrinal and technological solutions. Innovation will be an integral part of our mindset, operational methods, and capability development. Furthermore, we will implement the transformations necessary to adapt to the evolving battlefield,” General Seth added.

Outlining the remaining pillars of his vision, the new Army Chief emphasised greater jointness among the three armed services, indigenous capability development and the welfare of soldiers.

“‘J’ stands for Jointness and Integration; to enhance the Indian Army’s operational effectiveness, we will maintain synergy, complete coordination and alignment with the Air Force and the Navy. This integrated approach will enable us to participate in nation-building and propel us towards the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ (Developed India 2047). ‘A’ stands for Aatmanirbharta. Leveraging indigenous capabilities and technologies developed within the country, we will build a self-reliant Army. Our overarching aim will be to win wars using indigenous solutions…’Y’ stands for ‘Yoddha First’ (Soldier First) is my guiding principle,” said General Seth.

“In my definition, everyone from the newest Agniveer to the most senior veteran is a warrior, and these warriors constitute the greatest strength of our Army…On this occasion, I also pay my respects to General Upendra Dwivedi and all my former Army Chiefs, under whose vision and leadership the Indian Army has evolved into a strong, robust, and reliable force,” he added.

On Tuesday, the Indian Army said in a post on X, “An accomplished officer with four decades of distinguished service, General Dhiraj Seth brings extensive operational, command and staff experience across diverse theatres and appointments. He assumes command at a pivotal juncture in the Indian Army’s transformation journey.”

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. During his distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades, he has served across operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.

His command appointments include an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre, a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir and the prestigious Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army’s premier strike formations. He later served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, overseeing key national and international military engagements and ceremonial responsibilities.

After his elevation to the rank of Army Commander, General Seth led both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, becoming one of the few officers to command two operational Army Commands while providing strategic oversight across critical theatres for over two and a half years.

He has also held several key appointments at Army Headquarters, particularly in strategic planning and capability development, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the Army’s modernisation roadmap, force restructuring and integration of emerging technologies into future battlefield capabilities.

A highly accomplished military professional, General Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course, the National Defence College, and the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and deep understanding of contemporary military affairs.