Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, is India’s newly appointed 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), appointed by the Government of India on 9 May 2026. He succeeds General Anil Chauhan and assumes charge on 31 May 2026. A soldier-scholar with a career spanning nearly four decades, he was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985 and rose through the ranks to become one of India’s most decorated military leaders, commanding formations on both the Western and Northern borders before reaching the nation’s highest tri-service military office.
NS Raja Subramani Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM |
| Full Name Expanded | Narasimha Raja Subramani (N = Narasimha, S = surname initial; full expansion not publicly confirmed) |
| Date of Birth | 21 July 1968 |
| Age (2026) | 57 years old |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Home State | Tamil Nadu (South Indian origin; raised in Mumbai) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste | Not publicly disclosed |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Military Officer (Indian Army, Retired) |
| Current Position | 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India (effective 31 May 2026) |
| Additional Role | Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs |
| Previous Position | 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff (July 2024 – July 2025) |
| Regiment | The Garhwal Rifles (8th Battalion) |
| Date of Commission | 14 December 1985 |
| Date of Retirement | 31 July 2025 |
| Years of Service | Nearly 40 years (1985 to 2025) |
| Father’s Name | Not publicly confirmed |
| Mother’s Name | Not publicly confirmed |
| Wife | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Military Decorations | PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM + Siachen Glacier Medal, Operation Parakram Medal |
| Predecessor as CDS | General Anil Chauhan (2nd CDS) |
| Appointed by | Government of India (9 May 2026) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Social Media | No confirmed personal social media accounts |
NS Raja Subramani Education Qualification
| Qualification | Institution | Year / Notes |
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | NDA, Khadakwasla, Pune | 67th Course |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | IMA, Dehradun | 77th Course; Commissioned December 1985 |
| Joint Services Command Staff College | Bracknell, United Kingdom | International military staff course |
| Master of Arts (MA) | King’s College London / University of London | Postgraduate degree; Defence / Strategic Studies |
| MPhil in Defence Studies | University of Madras (Madras University) | Research degree in Defence Studies |
| National Defence College (NDC) | NDC, New Delhi | 55th Course; highest military education in India |
NS Raja Subramani Career Timeline
| Year | Event |
| 14 Dec 1985 | Commissioned into 8th Battalion, The Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army |
| Early career | Served as Divisional Officer at NDA, Pune (alma mater posting) |
| Mid-career | Attended Joint Services Command Staff College, Bracknell, UK |
| Mid-career | Brigade Major, Mountain Brigade (post-UK staff college posting) |
| Battalion Command | Commanded 16th Battalion, Garhwal Rifles in Assam during Operation Rhino (counter-insurgency); awarded Sena Medal |
| Post-command | Appointed Defence Attaché, Embassy of India, Astana, Kazakhstan |
| Colonel rank | Assistant Military Secretary, MS Branch, Army Headquarters |
| Colonel rank | Colonel General Staff (Operations), Headquarters Eastern Command |
| J&K posting | Deputy Commander, Rashtriya Rifles Sector, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Brigadier rank | Commanded 168 Infantry Brigade in Samba, Jammu and Kashmir; awarded VSM (26 Jan 2015) |
| Post-brigade | Attended National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi – 55th Course |
| Major General rank | Commanded 17th Mountain Division in Sikkim (Central Sector) |
| 26 Jan 2020 | Awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for command of 17 Mountain Division |
| Post-division | Chief Instructor (Army), Defence Services Staff College, Wellington |
| 3 Feb 2020 | Promoted to Lieutenant General; appointed GOC Uttar Bharat Area |
| 12 Feb 2021 | Took over as General Officer Commanding, II Corps (Kharga Corps), premier strike formation on Western Front |
| May 2022 | Chief of Staff, Northern Command, Udhampur |
| Deputy DG | Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, Army Headquarters |
| 1 Mar 2023 | General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, Lucknow |
| 2024 | Awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), India’s highest peacetime military honour |
| 1 Jul 2024 | Took over as 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi |
| 31 Jul 2025 | Retired from active military service after nearly 40 years |
| 1 Sep 2025 | Appointed Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) |
| 9 May 2026 | Appointed 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India by the Government of India |
| 31 May 2026 | Assumes charge as CDS, succeeding General Anil Chauhan |
NS Raja Subramani Military Awards and Honours
| Year | Award | Reason |
| 2005 | Sena Medal (SM) | For command of 16 Garhwal Rifles during Operation Rhino, Assam |
| 26 Jan 2015 | Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) | For command of 168 Infantry Brigade, Samba, J&K |
| 26 Jan 2020 | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) | For command of 17th Mountain Division, Sikkim |
| 2024 | Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) | India’s highest peacetime service decoration; for exceptional service |
| Service medals | Siachen Glacier Medal | Service at Siachen Glacier |
| Service medals | Operation Parakram Medal | Service during Operation Parakram (2001-02 India-Pakistan military standoff) |
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) |
NS Raja Subramani Early Life, Family and Background
N. S. Raja Subramani was born on 21 July 1968 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His surname and given names indicate South Indian Tamil roots, and he is widely identified as being of Tamil origin, born and raised in Mumbai. Growing up in India’s financial capital gave him exposure to a diverse, cosmopolitan environment before he chose the path of military service.
Details about his father’s name, mother’s name, and siblings are not available in any publicly confirmed official source. Like most senior Indian military officers, he keeps his family life strictly private. His personal background reflects the tradition of discipline and service that defines officers of his standing.
NS Raja Subramani Father Name and Mother Name
The names of NS Raja Subramani’s father and mother are not publicly confirmed in any official government release, military biography, or verified media report. This is consistent with the privacy maintained by most senior Indian Army officers regarding their families. This section will be updated if official information becomes available.
NS Raja Subramani Wife and Family
No publicly confirmed information is available about NS Raja Subramani’s wife or children. Senior Indian military officers customarily keep their family lives away from public and media attention. No verified source has reported details about his marital life or children.
NS Raja Subramani Education and Qualifications
NS Raja Subramani is widely described as a “soldier-scholar” within Indian military circles, and his academic credentials justify that description fully. He completed his foundational military training at two of India’s most prestigious institutions, the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune (67th course) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun (77th course), where he was commissioned on 14 December 1985.
He later attended the Joint Services Command Staff College in Bracknell, United Kingdom, giving him early international military education. He then pursued a Master of Arts degree from King’s College London, one of the world’s top universities, and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras. He completed the National Defence College (NDC) course in New Delhi, the highest level of military education available in India, as part of the 55th course. His combination of operational experience and elite academic training sets him apart as one of the Indian Army’s most intellectually accomplished officers.
NS Raja Subramani Military Career
Commissioning and Early Service (1985 to mid-career)
NS Raja Subramani was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of The Garhwal Rifles on 14 December 1985. The Garhwal Rifles is one of the oldest and most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army, with a proud combat history. Early in his career, he served as a Divisional Officer at the National Defence Academy itself, his alma mater, before attending the Joint Services Command Staff College in Bracknell, United Kingdom. On returning to India, he was appointed Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, a coveted staff appointment for rising officers.
Operation Rhino – Battalion Command in Assam
One of the defining chapters of NS Raja Subramani’s career came when he commanded the 16th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in Assam. The battalion was deployed in a counter-insurgency role as part of Operation Rhino, a major anti-insurgency operation conducted in Assam against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and other militant groups. His leadership during this operation earned him the Sena Medal for devotion to duty. This experience gave him deep tactical knowledge of counter-insurgency warfare in complex terrain.
International Posting – Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan
Following his battalion command, NS Raja Subramani was appointed as the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Astana, Kazakhstan. This diplomatic-military posting gave him international exposure and experience in defence diplomacy, intelligence liaison, and bilateral military relations at a strategic level.
Staff and Intelligence Roles
In the rank of Colonel, he served as the Assistant Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch at Army Headquarters and as Colonel General Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Eastern Command. He also served as Deputy Commander of a Rashtriya Rifles Sector in Jammu and Kashmir, gaining direct experience in counter-terrorism operations in one of India’s most sensitive regions. At the Lieutenant General level, he served as Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence at Army Headquarters, a critical national security role shaping India’s military intelligence framework.
Brigade and Division Commands
Promoted to Brigadier, NS Raja Subramani commanded the 168 Infantry Brigade in Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, along the India-Pakistan International Boundary. This is one of the most operationally sensitive brigade commands in the Indian Army. For this command, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) on 26 January 2015.
He was then promoted to Major General and given command of the 17th Mountain Division in Sikkim, known as the “Black Cat Division,” in the Central Sector of India’s northern borders with China. This high-altitude command during a particularly sensitive operational period earned him the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on 26 January 2020.
Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington
After his division command, NS Raja Subramani was appointed Chief Instructor (Army) at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. DSSC is India’s primary joint services staff college, and the Chief Instructor role shapes the military education of hundreds of Indian and foreign officers annually. This appointment reflects the high regard in which the Army held his professional and intellectual abilities.
II Corps – Kharga Corps Command
On 12 February 2021, NS Raja Subramani took over as General Officer Commanding of the II Corps (Kharga Corps) at Ambala, Haryana. The Kharga Corps is the Indian Army’s premier offensive strike formation on the Western Front, facing Pakistan. Commanding this formation is one of the most prestigious and operationally critical roles in the entire Indian Army. His tenure here gave him deep expertise in large-scale offensive operations and integrated warfare planning.
Northern Command and Central Command
In May 2022, NS Raja Subramani moved to the Northern Command in Udhampur as its Chief of Staff, overseeing operations along the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh. On 1 March 2023, he took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command in Lucknow, one of India’s six army commands, responsible for a vast swathe of central and northern India including the critical border with Nepal and parts of the northern front.
Vice Chief of the Army Staff (2024 to 2025)
On 1 July 2024, NS Raja Subramani assumed the appointment of the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), the second-highest position in the Indian Army. He succeeded General Upendra Dwivedi, who was elevated to Chief of Army Staff. As VCOAS, he functioned as the deputy professional head of the Army and senior adviser to the Minister of Defence, overseeing day-to-day administration, modernisation planning, and operational readiness across all Army commands. He retired from active service on 31 July 2025 after a career spanning nearly 40 years.
Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (2025)
Rather than stepping back from national service after retirement, NS Raja Subramani was appointed Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) with effect from 1 September 2025. In this role, he served as the principal bridge between the armed forces and India’s national security establishment, providing expert assessments on operational readiness, force planning, capability development, and crisis management directly to the National Security Advisor. The appointment came at a particularly sensitive time following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
3rd Chief of Defence Staff – May 2026
On 9 May 2026, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani as India’s 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will assume charge on 31 May 2026, succeeding General Anil Chauhan whose tenure ends that day. He will concurrently serve as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence. As CDS, he is responsible for driving tri-service integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, overseeing the creation of theatre commands, pushing military modernisation, and strengthening India’s integrated defence structure at the highest strategic level.
NS Raja Subramani Role and Responsibilities as CDS of India
The Chief of Defence Staff is India’s highest-ranking military officer and the single-point military advisor to the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the Cabinet Committee on Security. The office was created in January 2020 when General Bipin Rawat became the first CDS.
As the 3rd CDS, NS Raja Subramani will oversee the following key responsibilities:
- Tri-service integration: Driving coordination and joint operations between the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force
- Theatre Commands: Advancing the creation of integrated theatre commands to replace the existing single-service command structure
- Department of Military Affairs: Heading the DMA as Secretary to the Government of India, managing military procurement, modernisation, and joint doctrine
- Strategic advisory: Serving as the principal military adviser to the government on tri-service matters and national security
- Military modernisation: Overseeing India’s defence modernisation agenda including indigenisation under Atmanirbhar Bharat
NS Raja Subramani Religion and Caste
What is NS Raja Subramani’s Religion?
NS Raja Subramani is a Hindu. His Tamil-origin surname and given names are consistent with South Indian Hindu tradition. His name “Raja Subramani” references Lord Subramanya (also known as Murugan or Kartikeya), a major deity in the Tamil Hindu tradition, further reflecting his cultural roots.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s Caste?
NS Raja Subramani has not publicly disclosed his caste. Indian military officers do not publicly identify by caste as it is inconsistent with the Indian Army’s core ethos of unity and service above identity. No verified official or media source has reported his caste, and this page will not speculate on it.
NS Raja Subramani Personal Life
Is NS Raja Subramani Married?
No confirmed public information is available about NS Raja Subramani’s marital status. Senior Indian military officers typically keep their personal and family lives entirely private. No credible source has reported details about his wife or personal relationships.
NS Raja Subramani Wife
The name of NS Raja Subramani’s wife is not publicly confirmed. This is in line with the privacy maintained by most senior officers of the Indian Armed Forces.
NS Raja Subramani Children
No confirmed information is available about whether NS Raja Subramani has children. This information has not been disclosed in any official source.
NS Raja Subramani Net Worth and Salary
NS Raja Subramani’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. As a government servant throughout his career and now as CDS, his income comes from his military salary and allowances. The salary of the Chief of Defence Staff in India is at the highest military pay scale of Level 18 (equivalent to a Cabinet Secretary), approximately Rs. 2.5 lakh per month plus allowances, benefits, and official residence. His total lifetime earnings across nearly 40 years of military service reflect a distinguished career of public service, not private wealth accumulation. No public asset declaration is available for him.
Lesser Known Facts About NS Raja Subramani
- He is India’s 3rd Chief of Defence Staff, following General Bipin Rawat (the first CDS, who died in a helicopter crash in December 2021) and General Anil Chauhan (the 2nd CDS). His appointment marks only the third time in India’s post-independence history that this office has been held.
- He is widely known within military circles as a “soldier-scholar”, combining an active operational career across multiple theatres with advanced degrees from King’s College London and the University of Madras.
- He commanded the Kharga Corps (II Corps) at Ambala, India’s premier offensive strike formation on the Western Front against Pakistan, giving him perhaps the most operationally critical command in the Indian Army short of Army Chief.
- He is one of a very small number of Indian officers to have earned all four major service decorations: PVSM, AVSM, SM, and VSM, reflecting sustained excellence across every phase of his career rather than a single act of distinction.
- He served as Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan, giving him rare diplomatic exposure alongside his military career and deep understanding of Central Asian strategic dynamics relevant to India’s extended neighbourhood.
- He commanded the 17th Mountain Division (the “Black Cat Division”) in Sikkim during a particularly sensitive period on India’s border with China, giving him direct operational experience of high-altitude warfare in the Himalayan Central Sector.
- Despite retiring from active service in July 2025, he returned to national security work within six weeks as Military Advisor to the NSCS, and was then elevated to CDS just eight months later, showing the government’s high regard for his strategic judgment.
- His appointment as CDS comes at a critical juncture for Indian defence, following Operation Sindoor in 2025 (India’s strike on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan) and amid ongoing efforts to create integrated theatre commands, making his role one of the most consequential in India’s post-independence military history.
NS Raja Subramani FAQ
Who is NS Raja Subramani?
NS Raja Subramani is India’s 3rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), appointed by the Government of India on 9 May 2026. He is a retired Lieutenant General of the Indian Army who previously served as the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff and Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat. He will take charge as CDS on 31 May 2026, succeeding General Anil Chauhan.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s full name?
His full official name is Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM. The initials N. S. stand for his personal and family name initials, consistent with Tamil naming conventions. His given name Raja Subramani references Lord Subramanya of the Tamil Hindu tradition.
How old is NS Raja Subramani?
NS Raja Subramani is 57 years old in 2026. He was born on 21 July 1968 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Where was NS Raja Subramani born?
He was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He is of Tamil South Indian origin but was born and raised in Mumbai.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s religion?
NS Raja Subramani is a Hindu. His Tamil-origin name Raja Subramani references Lord Subramanya, a major deity in the Tamil Hindu tradition.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s caste?
NS Raja Subramani has not publicly disclosed his caste. Indian Army officers do not publicly identify by caste, consistent with the Army’s ethos of service above personal identity. No verified source has confirmed this information.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s educational qualification?
He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy (67th course) and the Indian Military Academy (77th course). He attended the Joint Services Command Staff College in Bracknell, UK, and the National Defence College in New Delhi (55th course). He holds a Master of Arts degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.
What regiment does NS Raja Subramani belong to?
He was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of The Garhwal Rifles on 14 December 1985. The Garhwal Rifles is one of the most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army.
Who is NS Raja Subramani’s wife?
The name of NS Raja Subramani’s wife has not been publicly confirmed in any official or media source. He keeps his personal life private, which is standard practice for senior Indian military officers.
What are NS Raja Subramani’s military awards?
He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2024, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2020, the Sena Medal (SM) in 2005, and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2015. He has also been awarded the Siachen Glacier Medal and the Operation Parakram Medal.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s role as CDS?
As Chief of Defence Staff, he is the single-point military advisor to the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Cabinet Committee on Security. He heads the Department of Military Affairs as Secretary to the Government of India and is responsible for driving tri-service integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, creating theatre commands, and overseeing military modernisation.
Who did NS Raja Subramani succeed as CDS?
He succeeds General Anil Chauhan, who was India’s 2nd Chief of Defence Staff. General Chauhan’s extended tenure ends on 30 May 2026, and NS Raja Subramani assumes charge on 31 May 2026.
What is Operation Rhino and NS Raja Subramani’s role in it?
Operation Rhino was a major counter-insurgency operation in Assam conducted against groups including ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom). NS Raja Subramani commanded the 16th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles during this operation. His leadership earned him the Sena Medal for devotion to duty.
What is NS Raja Subramani’s net worth?
NS Raja Subramani’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. As a career military officer and now as CDS, his income is from government salary and allowances. The CDS draws a salary at India’s highest military pay scale. No public asset declaration is available.
What is the latest news about NS Raja Subramani?
As of 9 May 2026, the Government of India has officially appointed NS Raja Subramani as India’s 3rd Chief of Defence Staff. He will assume charge on 31 May 2026 following General Anil Chauhan’s retirement. He is currently serving as Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat and will transition to the CDS role at the end of May 2026.
Sources: DD News (Official Government Announcement) | Wikipedia – N. S. Raja Subramani | Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Business Today