Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (Retd) appointed as Chief of Defence Staff
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd), has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also serve as the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs from the date he formally assumes charge. His appointment comes as the incumbent CDS, General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, is scheduled to complete his tenure on May 30, 2026.
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani presently serves as the Military Adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat, a role he assumed on September 1, 2025. Over the years, he has built a distinguished reputation as one of the Indian Army’s most experienced and strategically accomplished officers. Before taking up his current assignment, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. Earlier, he held the prestigious appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command, from March 2023 to June 2024, where he oversaw critical operational and administrative responsibilities.
An alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985. His academic and professional credentials reflect a deep commitment to military learning and strategic studies. He attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Bracknell in the United Kingdom and later graduated from the National Defence College. He also earned a Master of Arts degree from King’s College London and completed an M.Phil in Defence Studies from University of Madras.
During a remarkable military career spanning more than four decades, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani has served in diverse operational theatres and terrains, gaining extensive experience in command, staff and instructional roles. His operational assignments include commanding 16 Garhwal Rifles during counter-insurgency operations in Assam under Operation Rhino. He also commanded the 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir and later led the 17 Mountain Division in the Central Sector under demanding operational circumstances.
One of the highlights of his career has been his command of 2 Corps, regarded as the premier strike corps of the Indian Army on the Western Front. His leadership in such strategically significant formations has provided him with invaluable exposure to complex military operations and national security management.
Apart from field command appointments, the General Officer has held several important staff and instructional assignments throughout his career. He served as a Divisional Officer at the National Defence Academy and later as Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade. His international exposure includes serving as Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan, where he represented India’s military and strategic interests abroad.
His staff appointments have included Assistant Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch, Colonel General Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Eastern Command, Deputy Commander of a Rashtriya Rifles Sector in Jammu & Kashmir, and Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army). He also served as Brigadier General Staff (Operations) in Eastern Command and as Chief Instructor (Army) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
In another crucial role, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Command, one of the most operationally sensitive commands of the Indian Army. These assignments have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of strategic and operational dynamics, particularly along India’s Western and Northern borders.
Widely respected for his professionalism, strategic insight and leadership capabilities, the General Officer has been recognised with several distinguished awards and honours during his illustrious service career. These include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal (SM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), awarded in recognition of his exemplary service to the nation.
With his extensive operational experience, strategic acumen and long-standing service to the Indian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani’s appointment as the next Chief of Defence Staff is expected to further strengthen India’s military leadership and defence preparedness.
Indian Bureaucracy News wishes Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani the very best.