India has got a new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). His name is General N. S. Raja Subramani, and he is the third CDS of the country.
He has succeeded General Anil Chauhan, who retired on Saturday. General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed charge as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Sunday.
General N. S. Raja Subramani retired from the position of vice chief of the army staff on July 31 last year.
Before becoming the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), he served as the military adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat from September 1, 2025.
In the Indian Army, he served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) from March 2023 to June 2024.
He has over 40 years of military experience and is regarded as an expert in military operations along the Pakistan and China borders, as well as in counter-terrorism operations.
He has led 'Operation Rhino' in Assam.
He has been awarded four distinguished service medals for his exceptional service: the PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal), SM (Sena Medal), and VSM (Vishisht Seva Medal).
He also served in a staff role as the Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence (DDGMI).
General N. S. Raja Subramani may serve as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) until July 2030.
In the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), he served as the Military Adviser to the National Security Adviser (NSA) from September 1, 2025, to May 2026.
He served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army's Central Command from March 2023 to June 2024.
He also served as the chief of staff of the Northern Command in Udhampur.
He served as the commander of the 168th Infantry Brigade along the India–Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the highest-ranking position overseeing all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces—the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The primary role of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is to ensure better coordination among the three armed services and strengthen the country's overall military capabilities.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) serves as the principal military adviser to the Indian defence minister.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs in India's Ministry of Defence.
One of the CDS's biggest responsibilities is the implementation and oversight of integrated theatre commands.
The CDS plays a major role in allocating the defence budget among the three services and overseeing the procurement of military equipment and weapons.
The CDS is a four-star officer, and his rank, status, and salary are equivalent to those of the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The maximum age limit for holding this position is 65 years.
The country's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was General Bipin Rawat, who served from January 1, 2020, to December 8, 2021. He tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash.
India's second Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was General Anil Chauhan, who served the nation from September 2022 to May 30, 2026.
General N. S. Raja Subramani is now the country's third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
The CDS helps ensure that the weapons and equipment procured by the armed forces meet operational requirements and also promotes the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative by encouraging the indigenous development and production of defence equipment in India.
In today's world, warfare is not limited to land, air, and sea. Modern conflicts also extend to space and cyberspace, and the CDS plays an important role in managing and coordinating India's capabilities in space and cyber warfare.
