India Announces New CDS Appointment Ahead of Anil Chauhan’s Retirement
NS Raja Subramani Appointed as India’s New Chief of Defence Staff: The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General (Retired) N. S. Raja Subramani as the country’s new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). According to the official announcement, he will also serve as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs from the date he assumes office until further orders. He will succeed General Anil Chauhan, whose tenure ends on May 30, 2026. The appointment comes after Subramani’s long and distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades.
Currently serving as Military Adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat since September 2025, N.S. Raja Subramani previously held several key positions in the Indian Army. He served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025 and earlier as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command based in Lucknow from March 2023 to June 2024. Commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985, he played important operational roles along India’s northern and western borders during his military service.
Lieutenant General Raja Subramani received military training from the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. He also holds a Master’s degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras. During his distinguished career, he was honoured with several prestigious military awards, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal (SM), and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). Known for his strategic understanding and leadership, he is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening India’s defence coordination and national security framework.
ALSO READ: Benefits Of Homemade Fruit Scrubs
