General N. S. Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (born 21 July 1965) is a four-star general of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the 3rd Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces and as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. He previously served as the Military Adviser to National Security Council Secretariat prior to which he served as the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command,as the Chief of Staff of the Northern Command and as General Officer Commanding II corps. He also served as General Officer Commanding Uttar Bharat Area.
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.
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.
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
Dates of rank Insignia Rank Component Date of rank Second Lieutenant Indian Army 14 December 1985 Lieutenant Indian Army 14 December 1987 Captain Indian Army 14 December 1990 Major Indian Army 14 December 1996 Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army 16 December 2004 Colonel Indian Army 15 August 2006 Brigadier Indian Army 27 April 2012 (acting)13 August 2012 (substantive, with seniority from 28 October 2010) Major General Indian Army 2 January 2018 (seniority from 1 June 2015) Lieutenant General Indian Army 3 February 2020General (CDS)Indian Armed Forces31 May 2026
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