The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd.) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, with effect from the date he assumes charge and until further orders.

The appointment comes as the present Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, is set to complete his tenure on May 30, 2026.

Lt Gen Raja Subramani is currently serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat, a position he has held since September 1, 2025. Before this assignment, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025.

He also held the prestigious appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command, from March 2023 to June 2024, where he played a key role in operational preparedness and strategic planning.

The appointment of Lt Gen Raja Subramani is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening India’s military leadership and enhancing coordination among the armed forces under the Department of Military Affairs.