UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth appointed as Chief of the Army Staff w.e.f. June 30, 2026

Q1. With reference to Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, who has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army with effect from 30 June 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. He was commissioned into the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army in December 1986.
2. He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
3. He has served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of both the South Western Command and the Southern Command of the Indian Army.
4. At the time of his designation as the next Chief of the Army Staff, he was serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q2. Which one of the following officers has been appointed by the Government of India as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, taking over on the afternoon of 30 June 2026?

• A. Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi
• B. Lt Gen Manjinder Singh
• C. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth
• D. Lt Gen Sandeep Jain

Q3. Under the Constitution of India, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union is vested in which one of the following authorities?

• A. The President of India
• B. The Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by the Prime Minister
• C. The Union Minister of Defence
• D. The Chief of Defence Staff as Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee

Q4. Including the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), how many Commands does the Indian Army currently have, each headed by a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the rank of Lieutenant General?

• A. Five
• B. Six
• C. Seven
• D. Nine

Q5. In the institutional structure of the Indian Army Commands, the term 'GOC-in-C' is most accurately defined as which one of the following?

• A. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief — a Lieutenant General who exercises operational and administrative command over an Army Command
• B. Group Operations Coordinator-in-Charge — a Major General who coordinates joint operations between two adjacent Army Commands
• C. General Officer Commandant-in-Council — a four-star officer who chairs the Army Commanders' Conference at Army HQ
• D. Gazetted Officer Cadre-in-Command — the senior-most Brigadier responsible for cadre management within a Corps headquarters

Q6. With reference to the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence, consider the following statements regarding its officially notified mandate: 1. Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing of the three Services through joint planning. 2. Facilitating restructuring of Military Commands, including establishment of joint/theatre commands. 3. Formulating the overall Defence Budget and India's defence policy. 4. Promoting the use of indigenous equipment by the Services. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing of the three Services through joint planning.
2. Facilitating restructuring of Military Commands, including establishment of joint/theatre commands.
3. Formulating the overall Defence Budget and India's defence policy.
4. Promoting the use of indigenous equipment by the Services.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Within the Ministry of Defence's organisational architecture, who functions as the Secretary to the Government of India heading the Department of Military Affairs (DMA)?

• A. Defence Secretary
• B. Chief of Defence Staff
• C. Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
• D. Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, COSC

Q8. With reference to wartime distinguished service decorations conferred by the President of India on Armed Forces personnel, consider the following medals: 1. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal 2. Param Vishisht Seva Medal 3. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal 4. Yudh Seva Medal Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
2. Param Vishisht Seva Medal
3. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
4. Yudh Seva Medal

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. Which one of the following is the regimental centre and training establishment of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army?

• A. Mechanised Infantry Centre and School, Ahmednagar
• B. Armoured Corps Centre and School, Ahmednagar
• C. Infantry School, Mhow
• D. Army War College, Mhow

Q10. At the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, for how many years do cadets of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force undergo joint training together before proceeding to their respective service academies for further pre-commission training?

• A. Two years
• B. Three years
• C. Four years
• D. Five years

Q11. In the context of India's higher defence organisation, the 'Department of Military Affairs' is best described as which one of the following?

• A. A department within the Ministry of Defence, headed by the Chief of Defence Staff as its Secretary
• B. A tri-service secretariat under the Cabinet Secretariat headed by the National Security Advisor
• C. A directorate of the Integrated Defence Staff headed by the senior-most Service Chief by rotation
• D. An inter-ministerial body under the Ministry of Home Affairs that oversees paramilitary and theatre commands