Delhi, 09 May 2026: The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs from the date of assumption of charge until further orders.
The present CDS, General Anil Chauhan, will complete his tenure on May 30, 2026.
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani is currently serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat since September 1, 2025. Before this, he held the post of Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. He also served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command between March 2023 and June 2024.
With decades of experience in military leadership and strategic affairs, Lt Gen Raja Subramani is expected to play a key role in strengthening India’s defence coordination and military reforms under the Department of Military Affairs.
