S. Raja Subramani Appointed India’s Third CDS, Returns to Active Service After Distinguished Military Career
Following General Anil Chauhan, the Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani as the third Chief of Defence Staff. General N. S. Raja Subramaniam has been serving in the Indian Armed Forces since 1985. He was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has served in various command, staff, and instructional appointments. General Officer N. S. Raja Subramani is an alumnus of the 67th Course of the National Defence Academy and the 77th Course of the Indian Military Academy. He attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the UK and the National Defence College in New Delhi. Subsequently, he pursued studies at King’s College London, earning a Master of Arts degree from the University of London and an M.Phil. in Defence Studies from the University of Madras. After completing his studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom, he returned to India and assumed command of the 16th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in Assam. This battalion was deployed in a counter-insurgency role under ‘Operation Rhino.’ Subsequently, he was appointed as the Defence Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan. It is noteworthy that, while holding the rank of Colonel, he also served as the Assistant Military Secretary in the ‘S’ Branch at Army Headquarters. He further served as the Colonel General Staff (Operations) at the Eastern Command Headquarters and, in Jammu and Kashmir, served as the Deputy Commander of a Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles. Military Career Subsequently, upon being promoted to the rank of Brigadier, he assumed command of the 168th Infantry Brigade in Samba. He was then selected to attend the National Defence College in New Delhi, as part of the 55th course. Following the course, he was appointed as the Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence (DDGMI) at Army Headquarters. Subsequently, he also served as the Brigadier General Staff in the Eastern Command. After being promoted to the rank of Major General, he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding of the 17th Mountain Division in Sikkim. On February 3, 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as the General Officer Commanding, North India Area. On February 12, 2021, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed the charge of General Officer Commanding, succeeding Lieutenant General Surinder Singh Mahal. In 2022, he also served as the Chief of Staff at the Northern Command, based in Udhampur. On March 1, 2023, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed the charge of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command. On July 1, 2024, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed the office of Vice Chief of Army Staff, marking his 47th year of service. After retiring from active military service, he was appointed as a Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat. Most recently, on May 9, 2026, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani as the third Chief of Defence Staff, thereby marking his return to active military service. During his career, the general officer has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020, the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal