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

Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani Appointed India’s Next Chief of Defence Staff

The Government of India has appointed Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff. He will also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs.

The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff. He will also function as the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, from the date he assumes charge.

Lt Gen Subramani will take over after the present Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, completes his tenure on May 30, 2026. The appointment marks an important leadership transition in India’s top defence structure.

A highly decorated officer, Lt Gen Subramani brings more than four decades of military experience across command, staff and strategic roles. He is currently serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat, a position he has held since September 2025.

Before this, he served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025. He also held the position of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, from March 2023 to June 2024.

As Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Subramani will play a key role in strengthening coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force. His appointment comes at a time when India continues to focus on jointness, theatre commands, modernisation and strategic preparedness.

The CDS is one of the most important defence positions in the country, responsible for improving tri-service integration and advising the government on military matters. Lt Gen Subramani’s experience in operational commands and national security planning is expected to support India’s long-term defence reforms.

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