Gen Anil Chauhan signed off on Saturday, after completing his tenure as the senior-most military commander, Gen NS Raja Subramani succeeded him. The third Chief Defence Staff of India says the armed forces would work towards implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘JAI’, Jointness, Atma Nirbharta, and Innovation.
Gen NS Raja Subramani is known as an expert on Pakistan-China diplomacy. He took charge on Sunday as the new Chief Defence Staff with the ambitious military theaterisation plan and bolstered tri-services synergy.
Gen Subramani retired as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on July 31 last year, after serving as the Military Advisor at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
”Our armed forces consistently demonstrated professionalism and operational decisiveness in safeguarding our national interests. We are committed to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country,” he said after taking the position as the CDS.
He also added, “I assure citizens of India that armed forces will continue to serve the nation with dedication, courage, honour, and professionalism.”
Table of Contents
Lt. Gen NS Raja Subramani Background
Education and Initial Tenure in the Military
- Military Academy: Gen Subramani completed his training from NDA and IMA.
- Commissioning: He received his commission as an officer in the Indian Army on December 14, 1985, with the 8th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles.
- Education: He holds a master’s degree in arts from King’s College, London, and a master’s degree in philosophy (defence studies) from Madras University.
Middle-Level Military Tenure and Foreign Service Positions
- Brigade Major: Following his education outside India, he came back home and became the Brigade Major of a mountain brigade.
- Battalion Commander: He served as the commander of the 16th Battalion of Garhwal Rifles in Assam while leading Operation Rhino against insurgents.
- Defence Attaché: He worked as the Defence Attaché in the Indian Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Senior Military Positions
He served in the following capacities while attaining senior military positions, including colonel rank and beyond:
- Army Headquarters: Worked as the Assistant Military Secretary.
- Eastern Command: Worked as the Colonel General Staff (Operations).
- Jammu & Kashmir: He was the Deputy Commander of a Rashtriya Rifles Sector.
- Central Command: He served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief from March 2023 to June 2024.
- Vice Chief of Army Staff: In this capacity from July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025.
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Lt. Gen NS Raja Subramani Achievements:
During his long career, he won several awards, from the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2024) to the 30 Years long service medal. These are all the medals he received:
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
- Sena Medal
- Vishisht Seva Medal
- Special Service Medal
- Siachen Glacier Medal
- Operation Vijay Medal
- Operation Parakram Medal
- Sainya Seva Medal
- High Altitude Medal
- Videsh Seva Medal
- 75th Independence Anniversary Medal
- 50th Independence Anniversary Medal
- 30 Years Long Service Medal
- 20 Years Long Service Medal
- 9 Years Long Service Medal
Lt. Gen NS Raja Subramani: Family
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani was born on 21st July 1965, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a middle-class family with a military background, with his father serving as an Indian Army officer. He married Sunita Dwiwedi, a social worker, and the couple has two daughters. Born in Mumbai, he has Tamil roots and is widely identified as of Tamil Origin.
NS Raja Subramani Major Commands
| Command/Formation | Location | Rank at Time |
| 16th Battalion, Garhwal Rifles (Operation Rhino) | Assam | Colonel (Battalion Commander) |
| 168 Infantry Brigade | Samba, Jammu and Kashmir | Brigadier |
| 17th Mountain Division (“Black Cat Division”) | Sikkim, Central Sector | Major General |
| Uttar Bharat Area | North India | Lieutenant General |
| II Corps (Kharga Corps) – Premier Strike Formation, Western Front | Ambala, Haryana | Lieutenant General |
| Chief of Staff, Northern Command | Udhampur, J&K | Lieutenant General |
| General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | Lieutenant General |
| 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff | Integrated HQ of MoD (Army), New Delhi | Lieutenant General |
| 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) | Integrated Defence Staff HQ, New Delhi | General (4-star equivalent, CDS rank) |
Lt. Gen NS Raja Subramani Current Role
Subramani will also function as the secretary, Department of Military Affairs, permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and the single-point military adviser to the defence minister. He is expected to fast-track the establishment of joint services commands, a key objective of the theaterisation drive. These commands will integrate military elements, assets, and personnel from the three services under a single commander-in-chief.
Under appointment rules, the government can select the CDS from any serving service chief, serving three-star officer, or any retired chief or three-star officer below 62 years of age. The government extended Chauhan’s tenure by eight months last September.
Gen Subramani is 60 years old and will serve for 5 years until he turns 65; after that, he will step down, as the maximum age to serve is 65.
