Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth Awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal by President Murmu at Defence Investiture Ceremony

In a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 29, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) to Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, recognized for his exceptional service during military operations. The medal was presented during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-II).

At the time of the award, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth was serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, a position he began on April 1, 2026. He subsequently assumed the role of Chief of the Army Staff on June 30, 2026.

Lt Gen Seth, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, was commissioned into the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) on December 20, 1986. His education also includes attendance at the Defence Services Staff College, Army War College, National Defence College, the French Collège Interarmées de Défense, and the International Defense Acquisition Management Course at the Naval Postgraduate School in the United States.

Throughout a military career spanning nearly four decades, Lt Gen Seth held command over several significant formations such as 1st Horse (Skinner's Horse), 98 Armoured Brigade, Uniform Force in Jammu & Kashmir, XXI Corps, Delhi Area, South Western Command, and Southern Command. At Army Headquarters, he served as Director General (Discipline, Ceremonial and Welfare) and Additional Director General (Weapons and Equipment).

Lt Gen Seth also brought his expertise to international assignments, including service with the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III), and held instructional roles at the National Defence Academy and the School of Armoured Warfare, enhancing military education and operational standards.

The UYSM honors Lt Gen Seth's remarkable leadership and service in boosting the Indian Army's combat readiness and operational capacity. Prior to this accolade, he had received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), along with accolades from the Chief of the Army Staff and Army Commanders.