N. S. Raja Subramani Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About N. S. Raja Subramani

• N. S. Raja Subramani was born and raised in a middle-class family in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

• His father also served in Indian Army.

• General Subramani is an alumini of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

• Apart from his military training, Raja Subramani earned a master of Arts degree from University of London and a master’s degree in philosphy in Defence Studies from University of Madras.

• On 14 December 1985, he was commissioned into the 8th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, and spent most of his career serving in difficult operational areas, including Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the Northen borders.

• During his military career of over four decades, Raja Subramani commanded several important formations, including, the 16 Garhwal Rifles, 168 Infantry Brigade, 17th Mountain Division, Uttar Bharat Area, II Corps, and Central Command.

• While pursuing a course at National Defence Academy, New Delhi, he served as a Divisional officer.

• After completing his course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Bracknell, United Kingdom, he returned to India and was appointed as Brigade major of a mountain brigade.

• N. S. Raja Subramani commanded the 16th battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in Assam. He commanded the battalion when it was deployed in a counter-insurgency role as part of Operation Rhino. Additionally, he was appointed as the Defence attaché at the Embassy of India in Astana, Kazakhstan.

• In the early 2000s, while serving as Colonel he served as Assistant Military Secretary in the Military Secretary (MS) Branch at Army Headquarters, as the Colonel General Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Eastern Command, and later as the Deputy Commander of a Rastriya Rifles sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

• In 2012, Subramani was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. As a Brigadier, he commanded the 168 Infantry Brigade in Samba.

• During that time, he was selected to attend the National Defence College in New Delhi, as part of the 55th course.

• After completing course, he took charge as Deputy Director General Military Intelligence (DDGMI) at Army HQ. Along with that he served as the Brigadier General Staff (Operations) at Eastern Command.

• In 2018, N. S. Raja Subramani was promoted to the rank of Major General and served at the General Officer Commanding 17th Mountain Division in Sikkim.

• After completing his tenure at the General Officer Commanding 17th Mountain Division, he was appointed as the Chief Instructor (Army) and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

• On 3 February 2020, Subramani was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and was appointed General Officer Commanding in Uttar Bharat Area.

• On 12 February 2021, he took over as the General Officer Commanding II Corps as Lieutenant General.

• In May 2022, he was appointed to the Northern Command in Udhampur as the Chief of Staff.

• On 1 March 2023, General N. S. Raja Subramani took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Command.

• In July 2024, he was appointed as the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He served the position till his retirement in July 2025.

• After his retirement on 1 September 2025, the Government of India appointed him as the Military Adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).

• Later in May 2026, he returned to active military service and appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff of Indian Army. He officially assumed the charge of CDS on 31 May 2026. He was also appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.
  

  N. S. Raja Subramani (middle), while paid tribute at the National War Memorial, New Delhi

• Throughout his service, N. S. Raja Subramani is widely regarded as an expert on Pakistan and China related military affairs because of his long experience in border and security-related assignments.