Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Exam-focused facts from the 10 May 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (Retd) was appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs.
He will assume charge after the current CDS, General Anil Chauhan, completes his tenure on May 30, 2026.
He has served as the Military Adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) since September 2025.
He previously served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025 and as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command from March 2023 to June 2024.
He commanded 16 Garhwal Rifles in Assam under Operation Rhino, 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir, 17 Mountain Division in the Central Sector, and 2 Corps on the Western Front.
His staff and instructional appointments include Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan, Colonel General Staff (Operations) at Eastern Command, Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, Chief Instructor (Army) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and Chief of Staff of Northern Command.
He has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal (SM), and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).