N. S. Raja Subramani
3rd Chief of Defence Staff (India)
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Through United Kingdom, Assam and Government of India
Early life and education
The general officer is an alumnus of the 67th course of the National Defence Academy and the 77th course of the Indian Military Academy. The General Officer also attended the Joint Services Command Staff College, Bracknell (UK) and National Defence College, New Delhi. He later studied at King's College London and earned Master of Arts Degree from University of London and an M Phil in Defence Studies from University of Madras.
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Military career
He was commissioned into the 8th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on 14 December 1985. In a career spanning over four decades, he has tenanted various command, staff & instructional appointments. He served as a Divisional officer at his alma-mater, the National Defence Academy. He then attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Bracknell, United Kingdom. After completing the course, he returned to India and was appointed Brigade major of a mountain brigade and later commanded the 16th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in Assam. The battalion was deployed in a counter-insurgency role as part of Operation Rhino. He was subsequently appointed as the Defence attaché at the Embassy of India in Astana, Kazakhstan. In the rank of Colonel, he also served as the Assistant Military Secretary in the MS branch at Army headquarters, as the Colonel General Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Eastern Command and later as the Deputy Commander of a Rashtriya Rifles sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
On promotion to the rank of Brigadier, he commanded the 168 Infantry Brigade in Samba. He was then selected to attend the National Defence College in New Delhi, as part of the 55th course. After the course, he took charge as Deputy Director General Military Intelligence (DDGMI) at Army HQ. He subsequently served as the Brigadier General Staff (Operations) at Eastern Command.
General officer
The general officer was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed General Officer Commanding 17th Mountain Division in Sikkim. After completing his tenure, he moved to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington as the Chief Instructor (Army). After getting promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on 3 February 2020, he was appointed General Officer Commanding, Uttar Bharat Area. On 12 February 2021, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani took over as the General Officer Commanding II Corps succeeding Lieutenant General Surinder Singh Mahal. After a year-long tenure, he moved to the Northern Command in Udhampur as the Chief of Staff taking over on 10 May 2022.
On 1 March 2023, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Command succeeding Lieutenant General Yogendra Dimri who superannuated on 28 February 2023.
On 1 July 2024, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani took over as the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He assumed the post from General Upendra Dwivedi upon his elevation as the Chief of Army Staff. Following his retirement from active military service, the Government of India appointed him as the Military Adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) assuming charge on 1 September 2025.
Chief of the Defence Staff
On 9 May 2026, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff marking his return to active military service. On 31 May 2026, General Raja Subramani took over as the 3rd Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs succeeding General Anil Chauhan, who superannuated after more than four decades of service.
Awards and decorations
During his career, the general officer has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020, the Sena Medal in 2005 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015.