Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani has been appointed as India’s next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also assume charge as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs from the date he takes office.
The announcement comes ahead of the retirement of the current CDS, General Anil Chauhan, whose tenure will conclude on May 30, 2026.
Lt Gen Raja Subramani is considered among the Indian Army’s most senior and experienced officers, having served in several key command and staff appointments during his distinguished military career. He is currently serving as the Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat, a position he assumed on September 1 last year.
Prior to this, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025, where he played an important role in strategic and operational matters related to national security and defence preparedness.
He also held the post of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Central Command from March 2023 to June 2024. Over the years, Lt Gen Raja Subramani has been honoured with several prestigious awards for his contribution and service to the nation.