General Dhiraj Seth saluted his father and received a salute from his brother during a ceremony at South Block in New Delhi on Wednesday [1, 2].

The event marks the formal assumption of leadership for the Chief of Army Staff. The presence of three generations of military service in a single ceremonial frame underscores the tradition of professional military families within the Indian armed forces.

General Seth assumed his role as Chief of Army Staff following a formal guard of honour [1, 2]. During the proceedings, he saluted his father, retired Lt. Gen. K. M. Seth [1, 2]. This gesture served as a traditional way to seek blessings from a veteran predecessor within the family.

The ceremony also featured General Seth's brother, Rear Admiral Ravnish Seth [1, 2]. In a reversal of the traditional hierarchy of the day, the new Army Chief received a salute from his brother, who serves in the Navy [2].

South Block serves as the administrative hub for India's defense and home affairs ministries. The investiture ceremony is a standard requirement for the transition of power within the military leadership, ensuring a visible and orderly handover of command [1, 2].

While the ceremony followed established military protocols, the personal interactions between General Seth, his father, and his brother provided a rare public glimpse into the familial ties that often overlap with high-ranking military careers in India [1, 2].

“General Dhiraj Seth saluted his father and received a salute from his brother”

The public display of military kinship during General Seth's investiture highlights the continuity of leadership and the role of legacy within the Indian military establishment. By acknowledging both a retired general and a serving admiral from his own family, the new Army Chief reinforces the intersection of personal lineage and institutional duty during a critical transition of command.