Indian Army Appoints New Vice Chief, Commanders

The Indian Army has announced a series of senior leadership changes, including the appointment of a new Vice Chief of the Army Staff and the assumption of command by new Army Commanders for Western, Eastern and Southern Commands. The changes took effect on April 1, 2026.

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff. Commissioned into the Armoured Corps in 1986, he has held multiple command and staff roles over nearly four decades. His experience includes commanding an armoured regiment, an armoured brigade, a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir, and later the Sudarshan Chakra Corps. He has also served as General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, and as Army Commander of both South Western Command and Southern Command.

Former Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh has taken over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, succeeding Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar. An officer of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), he was commissioned in 1987 and has served in high-altitude and sensitive operational areas along the northern and western borders. He also previously served as Director General Operational Logistics at Army Headquarters. His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan and counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and International Boundary.

Lieutenant General VMB Krishnan has assumed command of Eastern Command, succeeding Lieutenant General RC Tiwari. Commissioned in 1988, he has commanded an infantry battalion and brigade in Siachen, as well as an infantry division and the Brahmastra Corps. He has also served as Director General Information Technology and Defence Attaché in London, and most recently as Quarter Master General at Army Headquarters.

Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain has taken over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, succeeding Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, who has been appointed vice chief. Commissioned in 1988 into the Mahar Regiment, he has commanded an infantry battalion, brigade, counter-insurgency force and a pivot corps in Northern Command. His experience includes service in United Nations missions in South Sudan and Ethiopia, and multiple tenures in high-altitude and counter-insurgency operations.