National, May 9: In a major reshuffle in India’s top military leadership, the Government of India has appointed NS Raja Subramani (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), while Krishna Swaminathan has been named the new Chief of the Naval Staff.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Lt Gen Subramani will assume office as the Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, after the completion of the tenure of current CDS Anil Chauhan on May 30, 2026.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has been appointed as the next Navy Chief as Dinesh Kumar Tripathi is set to retire on May 31, 2026.
Lt Gen Subramani has been serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat since September 2025. Earlier, he held several senior appointments, including Vice Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command.
Commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985, he has served in multiple operational theatres, including Assam under Operation Rhino, Jammu and Kashmir, and along India’s western and northern borders. He also commanded the Army’s premier strike formation, 2 Corps.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom and National Defence College in New Delhi, Lt Gen Subramani holds advanced academic qualifications from King’s College London and University of Madras.
For his service spanning more than four decades, he has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, currently serving as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, and specialises in Communication and Electronic Warfare.
During his naval career, he commanded several frontline warships and strategic formations, including INS Mysore, INS Vikramaditya and the Western Fleet. He also served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff before taking charge of the Western Naval Command.
The naval officer is also a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. He holds academic qualifications from Jawaharlal Nehru University, King’s College London, University of Mumbai and a PhD in International Studies.
The appointments come at a significant time as India continues to strengthen military preparedness and strategic defence leadership across all three armed forces.
