India's New Chief of Defence Staff

• N. S. Raja Subramani has been appointed as India's new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

• He will succeed the incumbent CDS, Anil Chauhan, whose tenure concludes on May 30, 2026.

• Subsequently, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani will assume the responsibility for the coordination and leadership of the three services—the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy.

• According to an order issued by the Government of India, retired Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani (PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM) has been appointed as the country's new CDS.

• He is currently serving as the Military Advisor at the National Security Council Secretariat, a role he has held since September 1, 2025.

• Throughout his distinguished military career, he has held numerous key responsibilities. He served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025, while from March 2023 to June 2024, he served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command.

• His appointment as the CDS is now viewed as a move that will provide a new direction to the joint operations and strategic coordination of the Indian Armed Forces.