The government on Saturday announced two key appointments in the country's top military leadership, naming Lieutenant General (retd) NS Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the new Chief of the Naval Staff.
Official orders for both appointments were issued early on Saturday.
Lt Gen Subramani will assume charge as CDS on May 30, succeeding General Anil Chauhan. Vice Adm Swaminathan, currently heading the Mumbai-based Western Naval Command, will take over as Navy chief on May 31 after Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi retires.
Lt Gen Subramani's military career
Lt Gen Subramani retired as the Army's Vice Chief on July 31, 2025, concluding a 39-year-long military career. He is presently serving as military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat after being appointed to the role last August.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, he was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985. He earlier served as the Central Army Commander in Lucknow.
The Army had earlier said that Subramani has "insightful knowledge and a deep understanding of operational dynamics on both the western and northern borders".
Government of India appoints Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd.) as the next Chief of Defence Staff, who will also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. He will assume office after Gen Anil Chauhan completes his tenure on 30 May 2026.
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2026
A highly… pic.twitter.com/wnbeitcpyX
He is also an alumnus of the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College in New Delhi. He holds a Master of Arts degree from King's College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from Madras University.
Subramani will take charge as CDS at a time when the Defence Ministry is pushing ahead with major military reforms, including theatreisation. The government had extended General Chauhan's tenure by eight months last September.
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Vice Adm Swaminathan to lead the Navy
Vice Adm Krishna Swaminathan previously served as the Navy's Vice Chief and has held several operational and administrative roles during his career.
Government appoints Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM as the next Chief of the Naval Staff. Currently serving as FOC-in-C, @IN_WNC, the Admiral brings nearly four decades of distinguished service, with extensive operational, strategic & personnel management… pic.twitter.com/5tFs4eR2xJ
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2026
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, he specialises in communication and electronic warfare. He has commanded several frontline platforms, including INS Vidyut, INS Vinash, INS Kulish, INS Mysore and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
He also served as Chief Staff Officer (Training) at the Kochi-based Southern Naval Command and played an important role in strengthening naval training systems. The officer was instrumental in raising the Indian Naval Safety Team, which oversees operational safety across the Navy.
