New Delhi, 01 July (H.S.): New Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth was accorded his first Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns on Wednesday after assuming office. Following the ceremony, he saluted his father, Lieutenant General K.M. Seth (Retd.), and his younger brother, Rear Admiral Ravineesh Seth. In his first address as Army Chief, General Seth said that the Indian Army's foremost objective would be to win wars through indigenous capabilities.

He said the Army would remain constantly vigilant along the country's borders and against emerging security threats while maintaining the highest level of operational preparedness to effectively counter any challenge to national security.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, General Seth is the first officer from the Armoured Corps to become Chief of the Army Staff since General Shankar Roy Chowdhury, who retired in 1997 after serving as an officer of the 20 Lancers.

General Seth comes from a distinguished military family. His father, Lieutenant General K.M. Seth (Retd.), retired as the Adjutant General of the Indian Army in 1997, when General Seth was serving as a Captain. His younger brother, Rear Admiral Ravineesh Seth, is a Flag Officer in the Indian Navy.

Widely regarded as a commander with a strong focus on operational excellence and field leadership, General Seth previously commanded the Bhopal-based XXI Strike Corps, the same formation once led by his father.

After assuming office as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff, General Seth said it was a moment of immense pride and humility for him. He said he accepted the responsibility with an unwavering commitment to the ideals of Duty, Honour and Nation First.

He also paid tribute to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation, saying their courage, dedication to duty and selfless commitment would continue to inspire future generations.

General Seth pledged to transform the Indian Army into a technology-driven, future-ready fighting force. He said leading the Army and reaffirming his commitment to the principles of Duty, Honour and Nation First was both an honour and a humbling responsibility.

He said that in view of the evolving security environment, the Army must accelerate its modernisation with renewed determination and purpose. The objective, he said, is to build a technologically enabled, future-ready force that is fully empowered and capable of operating effectively across multiple domains.

Keeping these goals in mind, he said innovation would become an integral part of the Army's thinking, operational concepts and capability development. He added that the Army would implement the necessary reforms to adapt to the changing character of warfare.

Speaking about his predecessors, including General Upendra Dwivedi, General Seth said their vision and leadership had transformed the Indian Army into a stronger and more credible force.

He said the Army would continue to maintain close coordination with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy to enhance operational effectiveness. According to him, such jointness would contribute significantly to achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Emphasising self-reliance, General Seth said the Army would build a truly indigenous force by making full use of domestically developed capabilities and technologies.

Our greatest objective will be to win wars using indigenous capabilities, he said.

He further remarked that, in his definition, every member of the Army—from the newest Agniveer to the most senior veteran—is a warrior, and these warriors remain the Indian Army's greatest strength.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar