Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth becomes Vice Chief; new chiefs for Western, Eastern and Southern Commands
On 1 April 2026 Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, while Lt Gens Pushpendra Pal Singh, VMB Krishnan and Sandeep Jain took command of the Western, Eastern and Southern Commands.
Summary
Several top Indian Army appointments took effect on 1 April 2026, the Ministry of Defence said. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, an Armoured Corps officer who previously headed South Western and Southern Commands, assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS). His predecessor as VCOAS, Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), took over Western Command from Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, who superannuated on 31 March. Lt Gen VMB Krishnan, previously Quarter Master General, took over Eastern Command from Lt Gen RC Tiwari, and Lt Gen Sandeep Jain of the MAHAR Regiment succeeded Lt Gen Seth at Southern Command.
Key facts
- Vice Chief of the Army Staff
- Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth
- Western Command
- Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh (succeeds Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar)
- Eastern Command
- Lt Gen VMB Krishnan (succeeds Lt Gen RC Tiwari)
- Southern Command
- Lt Gen Sandeep Jain (succeeds Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth)
- Effective
- 1 April 2026
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Who assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 April 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth
The Ministry of Defence said Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth assumed the appointment of VCOAS on 1 April 2026.
Who took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, from Lt Gen RC Tiwari in April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Lt Gen VMB Krishnan
Lt Gen VMB Krishnan, previously Quarter Master General, took over Eastern Command from Lt Gen RC Tiwari.
Who assumed command of the Army's Southern Command on 1 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Lt Gen Sandeep Jain
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain succeeded Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth as GOC-in-C, Southern Command.