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Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani appointed next chief of defence staff

Scroll | May 9, 2026 12:39 PM CST

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani was on Saturday named the next chief of defence staff by the Union government.

Subramani, who retired as the vice chief of the Indian Army in July, will assume office after General Anil Chauhan completes his tenure on May 30.

He will also serve as the secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.

Subramani will be the third chief of defence staff after General Bipin Rawat and Chauhan. The position was created in 2020.

The chief of defence staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the Indian armed forces and is responsible for overseeing inter-service jointness. The position does not have a fixed term, but the chief of defence can serve only till the age of 65.

Since September, Subramani had been serving as military adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat.

Subramani had earlier served as the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Army’s Central Command. He also commanded important operational formations along India’s western and northern fronts, the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.

Next Navy chief

The Union government also appointed Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next chief of the Navy staff.

He will succeed Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi who retires on May 31.

Swaminathan is currently serving as the flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Western Naval Command.

Subramani and Swaminathan are recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva...