Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is from the Armoured Corps and was commissioned in December 1986. It is the first time in more than two decades that an Armoured Corps officer will become the Army Chief.
He has had extensive experience across the operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Indian Army's combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.
The General has commanded at every level in diverse operational environments. His command assignments include an Armoured Regiment in the Desert Sector, an Armoured Brigade in the Western Theatre, and a Counter-Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir.
As a Lieutenant General, he commanded the 21 Strike Corps, one of the Indian Army's premier strike formations.
On elevation to Army Commander, the officer commanded South Western Command and Southern Command, earning the rare distinction of commanding two operational Army Commands and providing strategic oversight across critical theaters for over a period of 2.5 years.
He has held several key staff and strategic appointments that have significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development.
An accomplished military professional, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education, securing top positions in courses of instruction. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College, and has also attended the prestigious Command & Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and understanding of contemporary military affairs.
India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a defence budget of INR7.85 trillion (USD85.5 billion) for fiscal year (FY) 2026–27. The MoD said on 1 February that the new budget represents about 15% of total annual government expenditure and a nominal increase (before inflation) of about 15% over the estimated FY 2025–26 defence budget.
The budget allocation is intended to meet the modernisation and financial requirements of the Indian military following “emergency procurement of arms and ammunition made subsequent to Operation ‘Sindoor'”, the MoD said in reference to the Indian military operation conducted during its May 2025 conflict with Pakistan.
A substantial proportion of the new defence budget – 28%, valued at about INR2.19 trillion – has been allocated for capital expenditure, up from INR1.8 trillion in FY 2025–26. According to the MoD, revenue expenditure on pay and allowances receives around INR2 trillion (26%), and revenue expenditure on sustenance and operational preparedness receives about INR1.57 trillion (20%).
About 22% of the FY 2026–27 funding, valued at around INR1.71 trillion, is allocated for military pensions, up 6.5% from the previous fiscal year. The remaining 4% is earmarked for civil organisations under the MoD.
Under the FY 2026–27 defence budget, funding for the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has been raised to about INR291 billion, up from INR268 billion in FY 2025–26. Out of this new DRDO funding, about INR172 billion is allocated for capital expenditure.