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Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Appointed Next Chief of Defence Staff

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani has been appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff, effective from the date of assumption of charge. He will also serve as the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, replacing General Anil Chauhan who completes his tenure on May 30. The officer has over four decades of service, including roles as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat and Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He has served in various command and staff positions across conflict zones and holds multiple distinguished service awards.

Key Points: Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Named New CDS

  • Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani named next CDS
  • Served as Military Adviser at NSCS since Sept 2025
  • Previously Vice Chief of Army Staff
  • Commissioned into Garhwal Rifles in 1985
  • Awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal
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Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani named next Chief of Defence Staff

Government appoints Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani as next Chief of Defence Staff, replacing Gen Anil Chauhan. He will also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs.

"insightful knowledge and a deep understanding of operational dynamics on both the Western and Northern Borders - Ministry of Defence"

New Delhi, May 9

The Government has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff, who shall also function as the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, with effect from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

As per the official statement, the present Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, will complete his tenure on May 30.

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani has been serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat since September 1, 2025. Before that, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, and as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, from March 2023 to June 2024.

The officer is a graduate of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985.

He is also an alumnus of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Bracknell, United Kingdom, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He holds a Master of Arts degree from King's College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from Madras University.

During his career spanning more than four decades, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani has served across different conflict zones and terrain profiles and held several command, staff and instructional appointments.

He commanded 16 Garhwal Rifles during counter-insurgency operations in Assam under Operation Rhino, 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir, and 17 Mountain Division in the Central Sector during a challenging operational environment. He also commanded 2 Corps, the Indian Army's premier strike corps on the Western Front, the statement from the MoD added.

His staff and instructional assignments include Divisional Officer at the National Defence Academy, Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, Defence Attache in Kazakhstan, 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 and Kashmir, Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence at Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), Brigadier General Staff (Operations) in Eastern Command, Chief Instructor (Army) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Command.

The Ministry of Defence said the officer possesses "insightful knowledge and a deep understanding of operational dynamics on both the Western and Northern Borders".

For his distinguished service, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Impressive credentials, but I hope the CDS focuses on modernising our armed forces beyond just border security. We need more jointness between the three services and faster procurement. Smart move to have a strategic mind like him at NSCS before this appointment though.
J
James A
Sounds like a solid pick. Having served in the UK and studied at King's College London plus NDC, he brings international strategic perspective too. Hope he pushes for better defence manufacturing in India. Make in India for defence!
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Rohit P
Garhwal Rifles se ho, Central Command mein rahe, aur ab CDS! What a journey! His experience in counter-insurgency in Assam and J&K will be crucial. But I wish the government had given more time for General Chauhan to complete his full term. Still, congratulations to Lt Gen Subramani! 🙏
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Aditya G
Finally a CDS with such wide operational experience! From commanding a strike corps on Western Front to handling insurgency in Northeast, he's seen it all. The Chinese on Northern border will have to think twice now. But I wonder why the appointment is 'until further orders' - no fixed tenure?
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Siddharth J
Good choice. But I hope he prioritises welfare of soldiers and their families. Also, the CDS should ensure better coordination with DRDO and private sector for indigenous weapon systems. We can't keep importing forever. Jai Hind! 🚩

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