Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani Appointed India’s Next CDS

Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani (Retd.) was appointed as India’s next Chief of Defence Staff on 9 May 2026. He will take charge from General Anil Chauhan on 30 May 2026 and will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs.

Chief of Defence Staff in India

The Chief of Defence Staff is the senior-most military officer in India’s armed forces. The office was created in 2019 after the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and the Group of Ministers on defence reforms.

Career Profile of Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani

Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani served as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat from 1 September 2025. He was Vice Chief of the Army Staff from 1 July 2024 to 31 July 2025 and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Central Command from March 2023 to June 2024.

Military Service and Commission

He was commissioned into The Garhwal Rifles in December 1985. His service in the Indian Army spans more than 37 years.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Chief of Defence Staff is the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-service matters.
• The Department of Military Affairs functions under the Ministry of Defence.
• The post of Chief of Defence Staff is linked with military integration and jointness among the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• The Garhwal Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army.

Related Naval Appointment

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff and will take charge on 31 May 2026. He will succeed Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.