Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani appointed new Chief of Defence Staff

New Delhi, May 09, 2026 : The Government has appointed Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Ministry of Defence said that Lt Gen Subramani will also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, with effect from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders.

He will assume office after General Anil Chauhan completes his tenure on the 30th of May.

Lt Gen Subramani is a highly decorated officer with over four decades of distinguished service. He has been serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat since Sep 2025.

He earlier served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, besides commanding key operational formations along the Western and Northern fronts.