The Government of India has appointed N S Raja Subramani as the country’s new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), according to a report by ANI on Saturday.
Lieutenant General Subramani (Retd.) will also serve as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence from the date he assumes charge and until further orders.
The appointment comes as the incumbent CDS, Anil Chauhan, is scheduled to complete his tenure on May 30, 2026.
Lt Gen Subramani is currently serving as the Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat, a position he has held since September 1, 2025. Prior to this role, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025.
He also previously held the position of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command, from March 2023 to June 2024.
The Chief of Defence Staff is India’s highest ranking military officer and plays a key role in coordinating among the Army, Navy, and Air Force while overseeing military reforms and joint operational planning.
The CDS also heads the Department of Military Affairs, which was created to improve integration across the armed forces and streamline defence administration.
Lt Gen Subramani’s appointment comes at a time when India continues to focus on military modernization, indigenous defence manufacturing, and enhanced strategic coordination amid evolving regional security dynamics.
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