**Executive Summary**
The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also serve as the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, succeeding General Anil Chauhan, who completes his tenure on May 30, 2026. The appointment is effective from the date Lieutenant General Subramani assumes charge.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Appointment and Leadership Transition**
* Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd) is designated as the new Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.
* The transition is scheduled to follow the conclusion of the current CDS General Anil Chauhan’s tenure on May 30, 2026.
* The appointment remains in effect from the date of assumption of charge until further orders.
**Professional Background and Command Experience**
* The General Officer has over 40 years of service, including roles as Vice Chief of the Army Staff and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command.
* Since September 1, 2025, he has served as the Military Adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat.
* His command experience includes leading the 16 Garhwal Rifles in counter-insurgency operations, the 168 Infantry Brigade, the 17 Mountain Division, and 2 Corps.
* Staff and instructional experience includes roles as Defence Attache in Kazakhstan, Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, and Chief Instructor (Army) at the Defence Services Staff College.
**Education and Distinguished Service**
* He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Joint Services Command Staff College (UK), and National Defence College.
* His academic qualifications include a Master of Arts from King’s College London and an M Phil in Defence Studies from Madras University.
* He has been honored with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal (SM), and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).
**Impact Analysis**
**Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd)**
**Impact**
He will assume the highest-ranking military position in the Indian Armed Forces and a senior bureaucratic role within the Ministry of Defence.
**Action Required**
Prepare to assume charge as Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs following the outgoing officer's tenure.
**General Anil Chauhan**
**Impact**
He will complete his scheduled tenure as the Chief of Defence Staff.
**Action Required**
Relinquish the office of Chief of Defence Staff on May 30, 2026.
**Department of Military Affairs / Ministry of Defence**
**Impact**
The department will undergo a change in leadership and administrative oversight.
**Action Required**
Coordinate the formal assumption of charge and transition of responsibilities between the outgoing and incoming Chief of Defence Staff.
Key Entities Referenced
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd): Newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff who will also serve as the Secretary to the Department of Military Affairs.
Chief of Defence Staff: The highest-ranking military officer in the Indian Armed Forces and the senior-most uniformed military adviser to the government.
Department of Military Affairs: A department within the Ministry of Defence responsible for military matters, headed by the Chief of Defence Staff.
General Anil Chauhan: The outgoing Chief of Defence Staff whose tenure is scheduled to complete on May 30, 2026.
Ministry of Defence
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd)
appointed as Chief of Defence Staff
Posted On: 09 MAY 2026 7:21AM by PIB Delhi
The Government has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd)
as the Chief of Defence Staff, who shall also function as the Secretary to Government of India,
Department of Military Affairs, with effect from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders.
The present Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM will
complete his tenure on May 30, 2026.
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani is currently Military Adviser, National Security Council
Secretariat w.e.f. September 01, 2025. Prior to that, he was the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 01,
2024 to July 31, 2025 and was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command from March
2023 till June 2024.
The General Officer is a Graduate of the National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He
was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985. He is an alumnus
of Joint Services Command Staff College, Bracknell (UK), and National Defence College, New Delhi. He
holds a Master of Arts Degree from King’s College London and an M Phil in Defence Studies from
Madras University.
In his illustrious career spanning over 40 years, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani has served across
a wide spectrum of conflict and terrain profiles and tenanted a host of Command, Staff and Instructional
appointments. He commanded 16 Garhwal Rifles in Counter-Insurgency in Assam as part of OperationRhino, 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir and 17 Mountain Division in the Central Sector during
a challenging operational environment. He also has the distinction of having commanded 2 Corps, the
premier strike Corps of the Indian Army on the Western Front.
The General Officer’s staff and instructional assignments include Divisional Officer at 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 & Kashmir, Deputy Director
General of Military Intelligence in the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army), Brigadier
General Staff (Operations) in the Eastern Command, Chief Instructor (Army) at Defence Services Staff
College, Wellington and Chief of Staff, Headquarters Northern Command. The General Officer has
insightful knowledge and a deep understanding of operational dynamics on both the Western and Northern
Borders.
For his distinguished service, the General Officer has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati
Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
*****
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