Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd), has been appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He succeeds General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, who completes his tenure on May 30, 2026.
In his capacity as CDS, Lt Gen Subramani will also serve as secretary, Department of Military Affairs (DMA), from the date of assumption of charge until further orders.
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Named India’s New Chief Of Defence Staff Amid Major Military Reforms
Lieutenant General Subramani took over the role of Military Adviser (MA) at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) after his retirement from the Army. He has been at the NSCS since September 1, 2025.
Before retiring from the Army, Lt Gen Subramani served as the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025. He was also the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Central Command from March 2023 to June 2024.
Commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985, he is a graduate of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. His academic credentials include a master’s degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from Madras University. He is also an alumnus of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Bracknell, in the United Kingdom, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
Over a career spanning four decades, Lieutenant General Subramani has commanded formations across diverse operational environments. His leadership roles include command of the 16th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles during counter-insurgency operations in Assam, the 168 Infantry Brigade in Samba, Jammu & Kashmir, and the 17 Mountain Division facing China. He also commanded the Ambala-based 2 Corps, the Indian Army’s armour-heavy strike formation on the western front.
Lt Gen Subramani has also held extensive staff and instructional appointments, ranging from Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade to Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence and Chief Instructor (Army) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He also served as Chief of Staff at Northern Command, gaining deep operational insight into both the western and northern borders. Lt Gen Subramani also served as Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan.
Lieutenant General Subramani is expected to drive jointness and integration across the armed forces.
He has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
2026 will see major changes across the armed forces as after the CDS and the navy chief. This year will also see a new army chief take over in July, a new air force chief and defence secretary in November.
