In a significant leadership transition for India's armed forces, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd.) has been named the country's next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He is set to assume the pivotal role, which also includes Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, on May 30, 2026, following the conclusion of General Anil Chauhan's extended tenure.
Lt Gen Raja Subramani is widely recognized in military circles as both a “soldier-scholar” and an accomplished operational commander. His current assignment is Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), a position he took on September 1, 2025, after his retirement as Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
A Distinguished Career in the Indian Army
Commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in 1985, Lt Gen Raja Subramani served the Indian Army for over 37 years, building an impressive operational and strategic career. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, his international military education includes studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Bracknell, United Kingdom. He also holds a Master of Arts degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.
Throughout his extensive career, Lt Gen Subramani commanded a battalion during Operation Rhino in Assam, an infantry brigade along the India-Pakistan international border, and a ‘Black Cat’ division in Northeast India. He further led the Uttar Bharat Area in 2020 and subsequently commanded the prestigious Kharga Corps based in Ambala. Prior to joining the NSCS, he served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025 and as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command between March 2023 and June 2024.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan to Head Indian Navy
Concurrently, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has been designated as India's next Chief of Naval Staff. Currently serving as the Western Naval Commander in Mumbai, Vice Admiral Swaminathan will assume office on May 31, 2026, and is expected to serve until December 31, 2028.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, Vice Admiral Swaminathan specializes in Communication and Electronic Warfare. His academic and military training includes studies at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom, the College of Naval Warfare in Karanja, and the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Roles of the Chief of Defence Staff and National Security Council Secretariat
As CDS, Lt Gen Raja Subramani will also function as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, plays a crucial role in policy coordination and strategic planning on national security. As Military Adviser, Lt Gen Raja Subramani acted as the principal bridge between the armed forces and the NSCS, providing assessments on operational readiness, force planning, and capability development, experience that will prove invaluable in his new role as CDS.